John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

While we may disagree on the detail, there is one fact we all share, which is we were all embryos at one stage. With that in mind I am conscious that life did not start in the reproductive process with the embryo, but human life did. That is what makes the embryo something that of its own right has dignity. It must have respect or we would cross a Rubicon over which we could never go back.

In the time since the 1960s when stem cells were first recognised to today in November 2008, more than 70 diseases have been successfully treated using adult stem cells. There is not one single successful clinical treatment arising from embryonic stem cells. The reason is very clear and quite simple. If we look at the embryo, we see a living embryo which grows and multiplies at a very fast rate. That in itself precludes it from being used for any treatments. In the attempts to prevent this growth and multiplication there have been cancerous cells growing which is why with all the money that has been wasted scientists have been consistently unable to achieve success. For that reason I am happy to be associated with seconding the Bill.

I wish to share the last minute of my time, by leave of the House, with Senator Callanan.