Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I ask the Leader to note the very good news today about an article in The Lancet outlining how a woman in Spain has become the first person in the world to be given a laboratory engineered organ. This transplant operation was based on her own stem cells and did not require any immuno-suppressant drugs. The good news, contrary to what some speakers said in this House last week, is that so much progress is being made in the area of adult stem cell research and related therapies that we have every reason to hope that the cures we seek can be achieved through ethical means and not through embryo destructive research.

It is in that context that I hope to introduce a Bill in the House tomorrow, the Stem Cell Research (Protection of Human Embryos) Bill, which I hope will be taken during Private Members' time next week. I ask for the support of all sides of the House on that. I note what Senator Daly has just said about a united Ireland. Uniting a people is about more than eliminating the borders, it is about having policies that can unite people and that, in the area of research and medicine, can help us find cures with which we can all live. That is important.

I draw the attention of the Leader and the House to the excellent advertisement being run, thanks to Ruhama, on human trafficking which points out to people that to use a trafficked person in prostitution is a criminal offence. We had a debate on that at the time of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill. It is incumbent on us to have another debate now in light of the fact that it appears Norway will follow the Swedish example in criminalising the use of a person in prostitution. It is time we had another debate about how we protect people from exploitation in the sex industry. I ask the Leader to make time available for that because the way we treat the most vulnerable people in our society at any stage of life is the true test of our civilisation.