Seanad debates

Wednesday, 19 October 2011

10:30 am

Photo of Rónán MullenRónán Mullen (Independent)

I express my agreement with comments about Aviva this morning. Two important fixtures face the Irish football team and one of them will take place in the Aviva Stadium. It will stick in the craws of many people to attend fixtures at a wonderful national arena at a time when there does not seem to be a commitment to this country on the part of the company whose name is on the front of the stadium.

Already this morning, certain vested interests have sought to criticise the decision of the European Court of Justice, which has restricted the patenting of a stem cell research technique, which involves taking stem cells from a human embryo and destroying human embryos in the process. This decision by the European Court of Justice is very much to be welcomed. It is clear from the wording and language that the decision was taken with human dignity very much in mind. Nor have the voices expressing concern about what was proposed to be permitted been solely religious voices; the challenge was originated by Greenpeace. This shows there are people of diverse religious and philosophical perspectives in our society who place great store in protecting human life in its early stages. One of the more manipulative dimensions of this debate is the broad and exaggerated claims for future cures which are linked with embyro-destructive research. The reality is that much of the progress and potential can be associated with induced pluripotent stem cell research, which does not involve the destruction of early human life. Patenting is important because the only thing worse than the exploitation of human life is the privatised and commercialised exploitation of human life. We should all regard this decision by the European Court of Justice as a good news story. I hope the Government will always consider it part of its mission to join the ranks of those focusing on adult stem cell research and the promising moves being made in that direction in the search for the cures and treatments we all desire for the future.

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