John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

Yesterday the Irish Council for Bioethics called for legislation to provide for embryonic stem cell research, which they described as the gold standard. There is no instance of such research being successful. The researchers are like the alchemists of old trying to turn base metal into gold. Stem cell research is not that difficult. It is logical that an embryo, which must grow at a certain rate in a short time to become a baby and then a child, naturally has a built-in capacity to multiply at a fast rate. Therefore, to make the adult cell, the researchers must stop that growth. In doing so, they can do nothing but cause cancerous cells instead of taking the harder but productive route of adult stem cells, for which a clinic is open in Europe, which has had successes. They are right that there is a totipotent nature to embryonic cells but it is there for the very need of that embryo to grow quickly. There has been no success from Korea to western Europe to the Americas. It is like the child looking at the emperor with no clothes saying, "This has not worked". Billions have been spent without success.

Embryonic stem cell research may also infringe on our Constitution. Article 43.3 is quite clear. The X case does not affect this, as there is no possibility of suicide of an embryo. We have taken a very wrong road. The day life is taken and diminished in any way affects us all in different ways. If that Rubicon is crossed, one will not go back. It will only lead to further calls for life to be diminished. It is our duty to protect life.