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Government urged to bring in stem cell legislation

The government promised to regulate stem cell research in the Programme for Government – but there’s no sign of legislation yet.

03/10/12 2,969 Views 13 Comments
A lab technician works with stem cell samples at a lab in Louisiana (File photo)
A lab technician works with stem cell samples at a lab in Louisiana (File photo)
Image: AP Photo/Derick E Hingle

THE GOVERNMENT HAS been urged to introduce stem cell legislation which it committed to do in the Programme for Government.

The Irish Stem Cell Foundation has said that the current gap in the area of stem cell legislation puts patients at risk and deters investment from Ireland.

To mark Stem Cell Awareness Day, which falls today, the Irish Stem Cell Foundation called on the government to  regulate stem cell research.

“The current void of stem cell legislation in Ireland puts patients at unnecessary risk and expense, deters investment and expertise coming to Ireland, allows the general public to be easily confused about stem cells, and impairs Ireland’s capacity to do internationally competitive R&D in a growing number of areas,” said Stephen O’Sullivan of the ISCF.

The issue of embryonic stem cell research remains controversial as it requires the use and destruction of a human embryo in order to create a human embryonic stem cell. However, adult stem cells have increasingly been used for research purposes instead in recent years.

Read: US can now classify heavily modified stem cells as ‘drugs’ >

Poll: Do you support embryonic stem cell research? >

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Comments (13 Comments)

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  • Paul McCann 03/10/12 #

    Stem cell research is the most exciting medical development ever. It promises to find treatments for all manner of illnesses such as cancer diabetes MS and any other condition you can think of. I hope we are not stupid enough to allow religion to keep us back again.

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    • Conor Buggy 03/10/12 #

      Wait for the religion brigade to wade in any second……..

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    • Vinnie Mulvihill 03/10/12 #

      agree totally…religion over well being?its a easy choice if you want to be included go if it if your religion does not allow it and I can’t see why because I very much doubt they knew what a cell was when the religion was formed never mind trying to argue…just another opening for someone with little else to do than think of reasons why god will send everyone to hell even though he is all forgiving

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    • Paddy Scully 03/10/12 #

      It is sad to see uninformed comments, using any excuse to have a go at the church. The facts are that the church opposed “embryonic” stem cell research because it devalued the person. It does not oppose stem cell research. All of the progress in the area of stem cells has been with non embryonic stem cells. We could say thank you to the church for guiding researchers here away from this unproductive subsection of the research. All of the main research establishments have now moved from the embryonic to the other sources of stem cells. Thank God the abortion industry were not given another excuse for their dastardly deeds!

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    • Dec Rowe 03/10/12 #

      Any countries that have legalized abortion should motor on with this research! And backward countries that haven’t caught up with the times will soon see the benefits of it and hopefully bring it in!

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    • Vinnie Mulvihill 03/10/12 #

      can’t see where you got church from as it was religion mentioned but since you bring it up I wouldn listen to any church and especially any church or religion full of sick twisted gits touching up kids and for the rest to cover it up…

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  • Dec Rowe 03/10/12 #

    We should be leading the way in this research!

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  • Mjhint 03/10/12 #

    Again we see the abortion debate on here. People against stem cell research including embryonic cell research are affecting my rights to good medical outcomes. My view is medicine has come along way & science has huge role in that. If you dont believe in this research base on your beliefs dont avail of it. However dont stop me or my family.

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  • Michael Fagan 03/10/12 #

    Urge the politicians to introduce legislation, but that would mean them living up to their responsibility , they are TD’s for gods sake.!

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  • Fuzi Le Bon 03/10/12 #

    as I understand it, certain cells in the body cannot repair themselves correctly, spinal cord, brain tissue etc. with stem cells we can give the life back to people who’ve had an injury take it away from them, if religion stands in the way, then il be the first to break down the walls of that church.

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  • Luke McDermott 03/10/12 #

    Funny thing regarding religion…they pray to god for a miracle for people to get better, yet when stem cells have the potential to achieve this they go insane in their opposition to it.

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  • FuxAcheLad 03/10/12 #

    …just another empty promise! Who’s surprised with that?

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