Rosanna Davison has welcomed a committee that is being set up to tackle rights around international surrogacy – but said a “commitment” needs to be delivered.
The former Miss World reacted to the news that a special joint Oireachtas committee has been established to examine issues around international surrogacy.
Rosanna, whose two-year-old daughter Sophia was born via surrogacy in Kiev, said: “A positive step forward but the commitment must be delivered on.”
The couple welcomed Sophia via gestational carrier back in 2019 after suffering a heartbreaking number of miscarriages.
The model and nutritionist is now campaigning for parents like her of children born through international surrogacy as Sophia does not have the same rights as Hugo and Oscar.
Rosanna explained to RSVP Magazine: "In general for someone who has a child through surrogacy, once they step foot in Ireland there is no legislation to cover them, they are legally vulnerable.
"The parent needs to apply to be their child's guardian, but that is only up until the age of 18 and after that you are a legal stranger to your child.
"We are campaigning for legislation to ensure that no Irish child is left behind."
As it stands under current law, although Rosanna is Sophia's biological mother, she is "legally nothing" to her.
This situation affects issues like medical consent, inheritance and the child's welfare and if something were to happen to Wes, Sophia would have no legal parent.
Rosanna continued: "From a day-to-day basis it doesn't affect things, but if anything were to happen to the father or if the relationship were to break down the father could take the baby and the mother would have no say over it.
"There is a committee in place now to look at the situation and make a decision but something needs to be done urgently."
Rosanna is calling for swift action because she doesn't want Sophia to grow up thinking that she is different to her brothers.
"I am completely and legally Hugo and Oscar's mother but not Sophia's in law. I don't want her to grow up thinking she is in any way unequal to her brothers," she explained.
"The sooner it is dealt with the better for us and many families like us.
"I would like the legislation changed before Sophia grows up and understands what is going on."
