Seanad debates

Wednesday, 19 February 2003

Cancer Screening Programme: Motion.

 

Within Europe there is huge resentment at the fact that patenting of human genes, particularly of the BRCA1 which is the most common human gene, has been granted to Myriad Genetics of the United States. Virtually every Government in Europe has made representations about this matter but Ireland has not. I raised this matter in the House on a previous occasion and I ask the Minister to request officials in his Department to look at this again. This will cost us a fortune because some of the best work in the development of these diagnostic tests is done in places like Ireland and we pay Myriad Genetics in Utah every time a test is done in this country. It is immoral that the human genetic profile should be patented. I am not the only one who thinks this. The Minister probably agrees.

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