Breakthroughs cited in stem-cell debate

SEANAD REPORT:IN PREPARATORY work for legislation, account would have to be taken of recent scientific developments providing a route to research on human stem cells without any negative ethical problems attaching to them, said Minister for Science and Technology Jimmy Devins.

Speaking in the debate on the Stem-Cell Research (Protection of Human Embryos) Bill, introduced by Ronan Mullen (Ind), the Minister said the preparation for legislation in relation to assisted human reproduction and embryonic stem-cell research involved setting out the full range of issues and identifying all of the inter-relationships between them - including all of those to which Mr Mullen's Bill referred. Once completed, this body of work would be a platform from which a legal framework to govern this area would be derived.

The Government looked forward to seeing this work completed expeditiously so that it could create a comprehensive and robust legal framework for regulating this area. More recent developments would also have to be taken into account. Induced pluripotent stem cells had become available and were described as producing very promising results. This development postdated the report of the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction and was a very significant development, the Minister added.

Mr Mullen said there had been some stunning recent breakthroughs in adult stem-cell research which might well make embryo research redundant. It had to be borne in mind that we lived in an uncertain economic climate. Resources in this country were limited and hence divisions were called for. The Bill represented an intelligent and compassionate response. "We have neither the funding nor resources available to become a centre of excellence in both adult and embryo stem-cell research. We either fully endorse one or half-heartedly support both.

"Ethically sound adult stem-cell research has a proven track record: just last week, we heard of the real life story of a Spanish woman who was given a renewed gift of life, thanks to adult stem cells. Socially divisive embryo research has a list of unfulfilled promises and speculative estimation to its name. And nothing else."