What the Act enacted, what has commenced and why those are different questions.
Before the Act, surrogacy in Ireland operated without a dedicated statutory framework. The 2024 Act created legal architecture, a statutory regulator and future parental-order routes, but the principal surrogacy provisions are not yet in force. Read the current legal-status guide and check the official commencement table.
AHRRA was established in October 2025. Establishment does not commence every statutory function or create a public surrogacy application. See our AHRRA guide and always check the official commencement table.
The Act sets safeguards: a surrogate must generally be at least 25, have previously given birth, be in good physical and mental health, complete medical and psychological assessment and mandatory counselling, receive independent legal advice, and follow the AHRRA process once the relevant provisions apply. Thinking about it? See becoming a surrogate.
The Act describes future parental-order routes. Their availability and the current parentage position must be confirmed under the law in force for the specific facts. See the legal-process guide.
It enacted a broad regulatory framework. Its provisions commence separately, so the official table must be checked provision by provision.
The Act creates a framework for altruistic gestational surrogacy, domestic and international, subject to screening, counselling, independent legal advice and AHRRA processes as the relevant provisions are commenced.
Commercial surrogacy and paying a surrogate a fee domestically, traditional (genetic) surrogacy, and arrangements that bypass the required safeguards.
Under the Act a surrogate must generally be at least 25, have previously given birth, be in good health, complete medical and psychological screening and counselling, have independent legal advice, and follow the AHRRA process once the relevant provisions apply.
Source review: 31 July 2026. Check the official commencement table.
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