A controversial conference on commercial surrogacy scheduled to be held this week in Dublin, has been cancelled with organisers citing ‘security concerns’. Women’s rights campaigners say they had made complaints to Tusla regarding the event which they described as “selling babies”.
As reported on Gript this week, ‘Babies and Bites Dublin: The Path to Parenthood for Gay Men’ was to be held on Wednesday 6th May at the Clayton Hotel on Cardiff Lane. The event was being organised by Hatch Egg Donation & Surrogate Agency – described as a “premier” commercial LA-based surrogacy and egg donation agency which provides in-house IVF through the Pacific Fertility Centre in Los Angeles.
It says it provides “access to the largest fresh egg donor database in the nation,” allowing customers to “match with the top 5% of egg donors.”
The agency, well known for working with LGBT couples, says it will coordinate the entire process, including matching, screening, counseling, legal arrangements, and ongoing support. Its fees typically range from $30,000 – $50,000+ according to its website.
Potential parents can also search through profiles of women who can be selected as egg donors, or the biological mothers of babies – listing personal details including photos, education and jobs. According to Hatch, it has brought babies into 50 countries worldwide.
Sarah Holmes of the advocacy group Genspect said that a formal complaint had been submitted to Tusla and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth regarding the seminar.
She said that she believed the event was cancelled “because myself and other women were highlighting this and also we planned to attend (with our tickets) to ask questions.”
“Selling babies is illegal in Ireland,” she said,” we need tighter regulation going forward rather than it being left to women like me to sound the alarm.”
The complaint made to Tusla said that the event was “being marketed as an informational seminar for prospective parents, including same-sex male couples, outlining the process of pursuing surrogacy in the United States. This event is in effect selling babies.”
“Promotional materials for the event indicate that attendees will be provided with detailed guidance on the full surrogacy process, including egg donation, embryo creation, surrogate matching, and associated legal and financial considerations,” it continued.
She said that the concern raised in the complaint is that, “while framed as an informational session, the event functions in practice as a recruitment and conversion mechanism for a commercial surrogacy business operating outside the State. Attendees are required to register in advance, and the event appears to form part of a structured pathway through which individuals are guided toward engaging in commercial surrogacy arrangements abroad2.
“Ireland does not currently have a comprehensive legislative framework governing surrogacy, and commercial surrogacy arrangements are not permitted within the State. This raises questions about the appropriateness of hosting events that promote or facilitate entry into such arrangements, even where they ultimately take place in other jurisdictions,” she added.
The complaint highlights a number of key issues, Genspect said, including:
The organisation called for a review of whether such events are consistent with Irish public policy, and whether additional safeguards or regulatory measures are required.
Today, Hatch Fertility said “we are sorry to inform that we have had to cancel the Bites and Babies event in Dublin because of some security concerns.”
“We were of course very excited to meet you all in person, and will be reaching out with suggested channels to connect so that you can learn more about this wonderful and special journey to parenthood.”
The Natural Women’s Council which had been critical of the proposed event said this evening: “We don’t condone any threats and are sorry about whatever security concerns arose. We are however pleased that this isn’t happening on Irish soil where commercial surrogacy is illegal.”