Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Tánaiste to the Seanad. This proposal on embryonic stem cell research did not come to the Oireachtas for scrutiny in the usual way. It was discussed at the Sub-committee on European Scrutiny and was sent to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business for scrutiny. Both of these committees recommended rejection of the proposal. Will the Tánaiste explain why she intends to proceed in the fashion proposed, going against the wishes of these two committees, and why this proposal has not been brought before the Oireachtas for full discussion and debate with a decision arising from that so she could proceed on the basis of a decision of Government and Parliament? Scientific opinion shows it is not necessary to use embryos for this type of research. Human adult stem cell research is quite sufficient, while maybe not as scientifically useful as embryonic stem cell research. We can make great progress with human stem cell research and as time goes on we know that further progress is being made. There is no evidence that research on human embryos is necessary. As the Tánaiste knows, human embryo research is not permitted by Medical Council guidelines, but for some reason it is reviewing its guidelines behind closed doors. While the Tánaiste has stated such research will not be permitted in Ireland, we will co-fund it if other EU member states decide to go ahead. The point was made by a number of Senators today that if this decision is approved the research will not take place in Ireland. That is not good enough for many of us. We do not want our money funding this type of research in other EU countries. That point is being missed by a number of Senators.