Ahead of the Growing Families conference on September 16, which will explore the current situation of surrogacy and egg donations for parents in Ireland, the organisation’s Global Expert on Surrogacy, Sam Everingham, discusses what attendees can expect from the event.

Mark Davidson and his partner Damian’s journey to parenthood began at a Growing Families conference back in 2016. They connected with a Californian agency in LA and by August 2016 were matched with a US surrogate. A month later, they completed their IVF and transferred their first embryo in February 2017. It worked.

Fast forward four years and they engaged in a second journey. With less available funds, this time they switched to Canada, and worked with the country’s largest agency. Within just six months, in April 2022, they were matched with yoga teacher Meghan Kolodka from Sun Peaks, British Colombia, a first-time surrogate who loved their video profile.

With their remaining embryos still in California, Meghan agreed to travel to San Diego for embryo transfer. With young children of her own, Meghan had committed to no more than two transfers, so the pressure was on.

Again they were lucky. A month after Meghan’s first embryo transfer in September 2022, it was clear there was a growing baby. In early July this year, they welcomed a son Hudson.

With experience of both the US and Canada, Mark will share what he and Damian learned at Growing Families Dublin conference on September 16, 2023. But it’s not all about us as parents. Their surrogate Meghan, along with three others (two from Ireland) will also share what they look for in intended parents.

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Tracy Horan is a Dublin-based solicitor who has been assisting gay Irish singles and couples to navigate surrogacy for 15 years. In those early days, India was a popular destination, then Thailand. When both these closed, Tracy noticed an increased interest in the well-regulated destinations of Canada and the US. Closer to home, another – unregulated – destination, Northern Cyprus has more recently become popular with many of her gay clients.

“We have had many many babies born over there,” she says. “The system is really working. In regard to legal support, it’s a well-oiled machine”.

Legal advice remains essential says Tracy, “Particularly if you are thinking of going to a country that is not one of the very well-known ones”.

“Every journey is different. There is always some kink. We are dealing with babies, humans and biology. You don’t know what’s going to happen.”

A lot turns on the attitude of the intended parents, how positive they are,” Tracy advises. “You have to be relaxed about it and prepared for the knocks if they come.”

Tracy will also be speaking on September 16. With Ireland about to legislate for domestic surrogacy, the event will also give airtime to how these arrangements work in practice.

Tracy predicts domestic surrogacy is going to be hugely popular. “I’ve done a number of domestic surrogacy cases in Ireland already, so it’s not a new thing, it has been going on.”

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In regard to Ireland’s new legally sanctioned domestic surrogacy model, Tracy just hopes that professional screening protocols are introduced.

“Vetting of surrogates, making sure they’re looked after, making sure they’re psychologically prepared to carry a baby.

“What I would hate to see is…a situation where anybody could become a surrogate. You just don’t know how these people are going to react. In other countries (eg the US) there’s a protocol before you become a surrogate. I would hope that we have something similar in Ireland.”

In relation to international surrogacy, Tracy thinks the recommendations from the Oireachtas Committee are likely to be adopted by government, but there remain many questions.

“I would hope that the legislation will allow intended parents a structure that is easier…and faster for them to get declaration of parentage, particularly for the mother”.

At the Growing Families surrogacy and egg donation conference in September, a Senator from the recent Oireachtas Committee will share her perspectives on the Committee’s recent recommendations and how they may play out.

There is talk that the changes may come into effect quite suddenly. Tracy predicts that October or November this year is the likely timing.

Meanwhile, the event on September 16 is a unique chance to not only meet professionals offering well-regulated programs but to hear from parents who have recently created families in Canada, the US, North Cyprus and Argentina as well as the surrogates who helped them.

In a fast-changing environment, this is a must-attend event to learn about the reality of both domestic and offshore donor and surrogacy options to build a family.

Tickets for the Growing Families surrogacy and egg donation conference are just €30 which includes lunch, afternoon tea and networking drinks. Check out the full program and tickets here.