Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)

I shall probably need less. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill to which I wish to take a different view, namely, one that relates more to its scientific and biological aspects. Deputy Higgins covered many of the international legislative aspects which are clearly the basis on which the Bill is predicated.

This is an area for which it is difficult to legislate because of the very nature of the biological agents involved. While many of the agents we know are positive, productive and useful, depending on the environment and the way in which they are produced, their potential for harm is enormous. Many of the biological agents, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how they are used and applied, have the capacity for mutation. This is particularly the case for bacteria and viruses and is something over which we many have little control scientifically because natural mutations may occur to allow the agent to evolve into something significantly more toxic or dangerous than we had anticipated. Against that background, those kinds of agents are clearly much more difficult to legislate for and to predict what might happen in their regard.

It is also true that, on a relative scale, looking at the agents from the point of view of warfare, they are cheap to develop and easy to hide. However, it is not always easy to deliver the agent; there can be difficulties. Their production is simple. A very modest laboratory and a small amount of equipment and, in many cases, relatively little expertise in many areas can allow for the production of these agents. These are the kinds of issues that make it difficult to deal with them.

As the Minister of State, Deputy Roche stated, there is potential for good, too, in biological agents of this kind and it is against that background I wish to speak. All of us would acknowledge that without the development of good scientific research over many years good vaccines would not be available to us. In the production of such vaccines, however, organisms are developed that have the potential to be misused, abused and used very destructively. I offer the example of the botulinum toxin which was mentioned by the Minister of State. People will be very familiar with it. Potentially, it is hugely damaging and very small amounts of it are extremely toxic. However, minute amounts are used also as botox. I do not know whether that is quite the balance I would like to make in that argument but some people might be interested to remember it has potential positive uses.

My reason for speaking on this Bill relates to scientific development and research. This is always ongoing and will evolve all the time. We have seen that in regard to illegal drugs and their detection, for example, where it is so difficult to stay one step ahead. Very often we are one step behind those who have the capacity, supports and technology to develop such agents. The same will always be true of biological agents that can be used negatively. For that reason, we still need to ensure we have good scientific expertise that allows us to be able to detect, manage and control such agents. I say that against a background of scientific research. That aspect is very important.

I fully accept the need for the protocols and procedures that should be in place to ensure there are no hazardous outcomes, with people deliberately mishandling or misappropriating such agents. They can be targeted against humans, animals or crops and this has happened. The Minister of State mentioned this and Deputy Higgins also pointed out that these agents can be used in a number of different ways with different outcomes. One can decide to destroy a food source for a country, for example. There is plenty of historical evidence for this.

The entire area of bio-security must be borne in mind. Such legislation is not specific to this document and there is European law concerning bio-security and bio-safety. We must keep that in mind at all times. Clearly, the greater the international co-operation the better are our chances of reaching agreements and on that basis this legislation is important. On those grounds I welcome the Bill.

See this speech in context