Ms Danielle Ryan:

With regard to stem cell research, we have been told that it will be at least 20 to 30 years before they will be able to test it on humans. As Mr. Kearns mentioned, the auditory hair cells in our kids' ears are damaged. The research is only being carried out on mice currently and while researchers can grow the hair cells, they cannot stop the growth in them. Therefore, it is a long way away from even being tested on humans. We must decide that our children need to hear through both ears now, not in 30 or 40 years.