Surrogacy is one of the most concerning, novel and emerging forms of human trafficking, according to a scathing new report from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

The Government recently passed one of the most permissive surrogacy laws in Europe which recognises surrogacy contracts entered into overseas, which cost tens of thousands of euro, and which critics have called ‘baby-buying‘.

The report, ‘Trafficking in Human Beings in Ireland’, from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) examines all forms of human trafficking and the State’s actions to combat it.

Its third chapter examines “Exploitative Surrogacy” as a new form of trafficking, recently condemned by a legally enforceable EU Directive.

Regarding the Irish legislation, the Commission expressed concern that provisions relating to international surrogacy “may not have been sufficiently examined against the recast EU Anti-Trafficking Directive, which represents a binding legal framework”.

They also raised a red flag regarding the “haste” with which the bill proceeded to enactment.