The Labour Party has published legislation to ban human cloning, following the successful cloning of a human embryo by scientists in the US last month.
The Human Reproduction Bill, 2001, seeks to prohibit the bringing into being of a human embryo other than by a process of fertilisation, intended to lead to childbirth.
It proposes a 10-year jail sentence, and or a fine, for anyone who brings a human embryo into being by means other than by fertilisation "without exception". Researchers at the Massachusetts-based Advanced Cell Technologies last month removed DNA from the eggs of women volunteers and replaced it with DNA from adult cells. The aim, the company said, was not to create clones, but "rather to make lifesaving therapies for a wide range of human disease conditions including diabetes, strokes, cancer and AIDS".
Labour TD, Dr Mary Upton, said her Private Members' Bill is necessary because of growing concern amongst scientists and the public at the absence of any laws in the area. Following the US move, a number of European governments moved to introduce legislation to ban cloning, but no such legislation is being prepared here.
The Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction set up by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, has received 1,600 submissions.
"I believe that we should act immediately to introduce a specific legislative ban on human cloning," said Dr Upton.
"Doing nothing will create a dangerous legislative vacuum. The Government cannot bury its head in the sand on the issue and pretend that Ireland will not be affected by the implications of scientific developments which have drastic and far-reaching implications for humans."
