John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the Tánaiste to the House and commend her on the clarity and content of her address. In debates of this nature in the House over several years, to my recollection, we have always been careful to conduct them in a dispassionate and compassionate way. We are very fortunate in having the benefit of the advice of colleagues such as Senator Henry, who has the necessary technical competence and scientific knowledge to guide the debate.

In the wider context, I welcome the EU Sixth Framework Programme on research and acknowledge its value. From an Irish perspective, it is most important that adequate research be undertaken in all areas, in terms of our competitiveness in an international market. I am conscious of the fact that what we are now considering is just a very tiny fraction of the number of scientific research projects submitted for consideration under this programme. That is not to diminish in any way the critical importance of that very small number of projects and the attendant technical, legal and ethical questions which surround them. Those are huge questions and I would not wish to underestimate their significance or sensitivity.