#703 Surrogacy: Miracle or Marketplace?

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by a panel of guests to debate one of the most emotionally charged and divisive issues of our time: should commercial surrogacy be legalised in Ireland?Journalist Laura Perrins has sparked strong reaction online after expressing concern about a male couple who had a baby through surrogacy, questioning the ethics of the situation and describing it as troubling after seeing a video where the couple joked to a crying baby, “no mama, just a papa and dada.”In Ireland, surrogacy is currently restricted to altruistic arrangements only, meaning a surrogate can be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, but paying a woman to carry a child is illegal. However, there is a growing campaign to change that, with advocates arguing that commercial surrogacy should be legalised, particularly for women who cannot conceive and for same sex couples who want to start a family.Joining the discussion are Sarah Holmes, former Senator Mary O'Rourke, and barrister Laoise de Brún, each bringing a different perspective to a debate that raises profound ethical, legal, and emotional questions.Critics argue that commercial surrogacy risks turning children into commodities, and raises serious concerns about the potential exploitation of women, particularly those in vulnerable situations.Supporters say the opposite. They argue that as long as there is consent, regulation, and love, families should be free to grow in whatever way works for them, and that banning commercial surrogacy only pushes the practice abroad, often into less regulated environments.📞 Niall opens the phone lines:Should Ireland legalise commercial surrogacy?Is it an act of compassion… or a step too far?And should there be limits on how children are brought into the world?A powerful and deeply personal debate that asks where we draw the line between choice, ethics, and the rights of a child.