Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I welcome the fact that Senator Callely is to make a statement, to which I am sure we will all listen with care and courtesy.

I also welcome Senator Twomey and others raising the need for an umbilical cord blood bank. I know Senator Quinn is also interested in the issue. This proposal made by Peadar Mac Gabhann as part of the campaign, Your Country Your Call, deserves careful scrutiny and widespread support. According to the leader of the international marrow donor programme, 70% of patients who need a transplant are unable to find a matching donor. The transplantation of cord blood is ethically not problematic. We hear much discussion about stem cells, but here is an area in which Ireland could take the initiative in a way that would unite the community. There is great hope that in the future embryo cell research can be achieved by more ethical means, which should be a source of hope for us all. There are 70,000 births in this country each year and this material is being thrown away. Cord blood is a source of stem cells that ethically could be used in transplants leading to better lives for many. I suggest we have a debate on the subject and ask for an appropriate initiative to be taken.

I mention the report today that two thirds of head shops have closed since the ban on legal highs was introduced, but this raises the question of what has happened to the other one third. We have also heard reports that, as predicted, new substances are appearing in order to get around the measures taken by the Government. We need to look at the possibility of taking sterner measures to rid our society of this plague completely. This would involve a change to our planning laws so as to require permission for a change of use from anyone who wishes to open such an establishment. We also need to look at how existing establishments can be closed down.