Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)

Science is and will continue to be our new frontier. Its terrain is infinite and its scope is vast. History has illustrated how it has reflected the best and worst aspects of the human race. It has the potential to be the most positive, constructive force in our lives, yet, unchecked and unbridled, it has the potential to be the most destructive.

We cannot here begin to imagine the potential of stem cell research. It represents one of the most important and challenging areas of investigation that scientists and clinicians will undertake in our time. The use of stem cells has the potential to have a significant impact on human health, not only in the areas of treatment, repair and recovery, but also in the generation of hope for patients and their families. Stem cell research creates challenges for scientists and clinicians but, undoubtedly, it creates significant challenges for our society and legislators, not least because of the sourcing of stem cells and the ethical issues that arise.

As with other Members, I do not have the answers this evening. I welcome the opportunity to debate this issue and thank Senator Mullen for raising it. It is only through such debate that we will have the opportunity to think this through in all its dimensions with the aim of arriving at a position that best serves the people and future generations. For such debates to be effective, it is important that we listen to each other and know our starting points and that we are prepared to be informed by and learn from what we hear. Ultimately we may change our views as a result of such debates and discussions.

A considerable responsibility is placed upon us and most of us do not have a scientific background. However, we may have strong personal or religious beliefs, or have a close family member facing into a serious illness or disease. We all recognise the importance of this area, the necessity to consider the challenges facing it and the role society must play in its governance and regulation. Regardless of our perspective, we all recognise the dangers of leaving such an area without guidelines and regulation.

As legislators, we wish to see ethical issues addressed. We will have different views on how that should be done but as legislators we also want to ensure that Ireland and its scientific community are at the cutting edge of research in fully realising its potential. As legislators, we want to ensure that our citizens have access to the best possible quality of life and medical treatment. Although most of us are not scientists, we are faced with the responsibility of legislation and, as legislators, we must do this based on the facts.

The following are some of the facts we should consider. Stem cells have a special and unique property to develop into many other cell types that aid treatment. Stem cells can be sourced from embryos but this results in the destruction of the embryo. Stem cells can be developed from umbilical cord and from bone marrow. To date, 214,793 papers on stem cells have been published in peer-reviewed journals. Of those, 132,662 are papers on human stem cells. Incidentally, 150 of the latter grouping are Irish. I say to the Minister of State that it is very important that we support our scientific community.

These papers have shown that stem cells have the potential to treat some of the most horrific diseases mankind has ever faced. An example mentioned by previous speakers is the trachea that was constructed this year from stem cells. The cells in question were transplanted from bone marrow.

Bristol University is about to start clinical trials on 60 heart attack patients, injecting stem cells into damaged heart tissue. In Britain, scientists will grow human liver cells from stem cells taken from umbilical cord. In Newcastle University, scientists will create sperm, again from bone marrow stem cells.

I wish to draw attention, somewhat unusually, to a quotation from President George Bush.

While we must devote enormous energy to conquering disease, it is equally important that we pay attention to the moral concerns raised by the new frontier of human embryo stem cell research. Even the most noble ends do not justify any means.

Some scientists argue that stem cells harvested from bone marrow and umbilical cord are not as useful as embryonic stem cells. However, ten years ago, the same scientists argued that embryonic stem cells were the only show in town. As a result of the stance taken by President Bush, which gave them no choice, they created the technology to develop stem cells from non-embryonic tissue.

This is a horse that has enormous potential but, unsaddled and unreined, it is a dangerous beast. We do not suggest stabling the horse, merely making sure that it does not harm anyone. To do this we must introduce legislation. The questions such legislation must address include the fundamental issue of the use of embryonic stem cells. Such legislation must prohibit human cloning and must support our scientific community and ensure best possible practice. Although we are not as ideally equipped as we would like to be, we must play our role, base our work on fact and arrive at legislation through discussion and debate and, above all, a willingness on all our parts to listen and learn.