Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 27: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason Ireland has failed to join 31 other European states in ratifying the Council of Europe's 1997 Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9445/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Ireland is not a signatory to the Council of Europe Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine as there are difficulties with some articles that have implications for the destruction of human embryos. The question of our signing the convention with formal reservations in respect of articles with which we have difficulty has been kept under review.

I expect the report of the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction very shortly. Cloning and embryo research are among a number of issues that are currently being examined by the commission in the context of its preparation of a report on the possible approaches to the regulation of all aspects of assisted human reproduction and the social, ethical and legal factors to be taken into account in determining public policy in this area. When completed, the commission's report will provide the basis for informing public debate prior to the finalisation of any policy proposals. The question of ratifying the convention will be examined in the light of the outcome of that debate.