Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wholeheartedly support Senator John Crown's call in regard to genetic testing and take note of his final statement that it is eventually a cost-saving exercise. It would be a false economy not to ensure this test is made available for people who need it. As Senator Crown said, the numbers are not huge.

I stand to raise the issue of the new advances in stem cell research, details of which were published yesterday. We have no legislation at all in Ireland on stem cell research. It has been said that when autopsies were first mooted, they were very controversial, and the fact science will overtake legislation again in this country is not a good thing. I ask for a debate on the whole issue of stem cell research. It is not, as one reads in some newspapers, human cloning, so-called reproductive cloning or anything that would turn people off it straight away. This stem cell research is a major scientific development designed to produce replacement tissue for transplant operations to ensure that dysfunctional or damaged organs can be repaired or replaced. It is a huge breakthrough which will help to alleviate many diseases, such as Alzheimer's, blindness, MS and a huge litany of other diseases.

I am not saying we should either adopt it or not, but that we should discuss it in this Chamber. Dr. Stephen Sullivan, chief scientific officer of the Irish Stem Cell Foundation, has said he does not even know which Department is dealing with it or could deal with it, and that it is going from Billy to Jack. Is it the Department of the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Sherlock, or the Department of Health which is responsible? Is it a science and technology or health issue? I want to see a debate on the elements of this issue and I ask that the correct Minister would take that debate. I would like to see legislation introduced in this area.