UCC approval of Embryo-Destructive Research "to be deplored".

Statement by Senator Rónán Mullen 28/10/2008 

Today’s decision by the Governing body of UCC in relation to human embryonic stem cell research is to be deplored. The Governing Body has ‘noted’ the approval by the College’s Academic Council of a protocol under which permission may be sought and granted for the purpose of carrying out research on stem cells derived from human embryos.

For the University to act in this way, in the absence of legislative provisions governing these matters, is pre-emptive and irresponsible. Embryonic stem cell research and the use of derivatives of embryonic stem cells necessitate the destruction of human embryos. This is wrong in principle and unnecessary in practice. The ever-growing potential of adult stem cell research - which is not ethically problematic - appears not to have weighed with the university dons.

It is now crucial to bring forward legislation to prohibit embryo-destructive research or any research which derives or benefits from the destruction of human embryos. Such legislation should also prohibit the creation of, or research on, animal-human hybrids.