Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Very often matters raised on the Order of Business involve a degree of criticism and negativity and, in that context, I was very pleased to hear the contributions of Senator Quinn and others on the heroic example of active citizenship shown during the night.

I am pleased to raise another good news story. Reports in yesterday's newspapers outlined the great progress being made in stem cell research. Latest developments mean it is possible to obtain flexible stem cells from skin cells. The great medical hope is that it will be possible to develop cures for various diseases through the use of these cells. Many people rightly had ethical concerns about research involving the destruction of embryos. However, the latest Japanese research indicates that highly flexible stem cells can be obtained by reprogramming skin cells.

There remains a need for debate in this area, particularly in regard to the activities of the European Union and the performance of the Government in deliberating on such issues at EU level. In the debate on EU funding for embryo destructive research, Ireland adopted a shamefully compliant position, considering our constitutional principles. We did not support those countries advocating ethical research, although that argument now seems to be in the ascendant. In advance of the referendum on the EU reform treaty, there should be a debate in this House on how decisions are made at EU level and the steps being taken by the Government to ensure those decisions are correct. I heard on the radio yesterday of the terrible treatment of children with disabilities in Bulgarian institutions. In the negotiations leading to Bulgaria's accession to the EU, the European Commission showed little interest in obliging the Bulgarian Government to ensure its institutions were up to scratch. Hidden governance is bad governance. We must discuss how we can have greater scrutiny of the case made by the Government when these types of decisions are made.