Irish couples are waiting for14 babies due to be born to surrogate mothers in war-threatened Ukraine. They may face an €88-a-day fee for ‘nanny’ care in the under-threat country.

Ukraine is one of the only countries in the world to allow commercial surrogacy which critics say exploits women and commodifies children.

If the Irish couples cannot travel to collect the infants, one Fine Gael Senator has asked for the Government to subsidise the extra cost.

A small number of parents are understood to be in Ukraine, although most are still in Ireland.

Fine Gael Senator Mary Seery Kearney said the commercial surrogacy companies “are proposing a nanny arrangement but it’s coming at a considerable cost that wasn’t anticipated.”.