Stephen Donnelly has been accused of going on an “ill-informed” solo run, causing “untold” hurt to families with children born through international commercial surrogacy, a practice banned or not recognised by almost every European country.

The Health Minister had suggested that international surrogacy might not be included in a new Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) bill, and attempting to do so was delaying a long-awaited push to publicly fund IVF.

Speaking in the Seanad last week, Mr Donnelly said “We need to regulate this sector [AHR] domestically. It’s at committee, and it has been paused. I was asked to stop it for several months, I’ve stopped it for several months. But I’m very keen that we get going with the AHR bill quickly.”

TDs and senators sitting on a special committee on international surrogacy reacted with dismay.

Mary Seery Kearney, a Fine Gael senator who had her own daughter via surrogacy, said Mr Donnelly’s remarks “caused absolutely untold hurt and upset amongst families with children via surrogacy.”

Kathleen Funchion of Sinn Féin said she “literally couldn’t believe” Mr Donnelly’s remarks. She said she was “sick” of the committee being accused of delaying a bill, which has been in pre-legislative scrutiny for the last five years.

Jennifer Whitmore, the chair of the committee, said that she believed Mr Donnelly was “moving the goalposts” at a late stage.