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Family dynamics

03rd Dec 2021

WATCH: The Mothership — Fighting for the right to be your own child’s parent

Laura Cunningham

How would it feel if you had no legal rights whatsoever to your biological children?

Introducing, The Mothership; Ireland’s first parenting panel show, brought to you by HerFamily.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be bringing the issues that matter most to Irish familes to the table.

On this week’s episode we’re asking, how would it feel if you had no legal rights to your biological children? This is the position many Irish families find themselves in due to the current lack of appropriate legislation for surrogacy and donor assisted conception, also known as AHR (Assisted Human Reproduction) in Irish law.

Vitally, the children in these families are left vulnerable in a number of ways, simply because of the date or location of their birth, or the way in which they were conceived.

Watch the full episode here:

On the first episode of The Mothership, we’re joined by Ranae von Meding from Equality for Children, Cathy Wheatley from Irish Families Through Surrogacy and fellow activist and father of two, Brendan Spratt.

These panelists have been tirelessly campaigning for equality for families and children, a fight that’s been going on for more than 20 years, but they’re also parents whose families are affected by the issue, in different ways. Today, we hear their stories.

Huge thanks  also to Rosanna Davison who kindly joined us in adding her voice to the campaign:

How can you help?

Who to contact

If you think you can help, or you’re affected by the issues covered you can get in touch here:

Ranae von Meding, Equality for Children: ranae@equalityforchildren.ie

Sara Byrne, Irish Families Through Surrogacy: irishfamiliesthroughsurrogacy@gmail.com

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