The Minister for Health has said he expects new legislation on surrogacy will be drafted, debated, and enacted by the time the Dáil rises for the summer recess in July.

Almost all European countries either ban or do not recognise the practice because they believe it exploits women and commodifies babies.

Minister Stephen Donnelly told the Dáil the formal drafting process is well under way. He said legislation with this level of detail and complexity would normally take several years.

He said he hopes to bring it to Cabinet soon, after which it will be debated at the Health Committee.