Courts / Ireland / Report

Women challenge refusal of Irish passport for son born through IVF

Summary

Two married women have taken a High Court challenge over a decision by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to refuse an Irish passport for their son, who was born with the assistance of a UK fertility clinic. One of the applicants is an Irish citizen living in the UK in a lawful same-sex marriage and is the legal parent to her child, named as 'parent' on the birth certificate but not as mother. The other parent, who gave birth, is named as the mother. The applicants argue that the State does not recognise the parentage, parental rights, and family status of the Irish citizen for citizenship through descent. They seek a High Court declaration that the Irish applicant is the lawful parent to their child under Irish law and an order compelling the department to grant citizenship by descent to their child. The applicant was born in Northern Ireland and the couple engaged in shared motherhood IVF in the UK. The Department refused the passport based on its definition of 'parent'.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Women challenge refusal of Irish passport for son born through IVF. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• September 2024 Other
• December 2025 Other
• April 2026 Other
• 2026-06-24 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report