Expert says human cloning is possible in Ireland

A leading Irish expert in medical law has said that the Minister for Health will have to look at enacting legislation to deal with the issue of human cloning in Ireland.

Dr Deirdre Madden, who is also a member of the Government's Commission of Assisted Human Reproduction, said that there is currently no legislation in Irish law preventing human cloning.

As there are no criminal sanctions preventing it, she said that in theory it could be legal for any group to do so.

Her call to the Minister comes after an American company Clonaid claimed yesterday that a woman has given birth to a genetically cloned baby girl. The child, named Eve, was born on St Stephen's day at an undisclosed location.

The birth has prompted calls from US President George Bush to ban human cloning. Last year the UK Government brought in the Human Reproductive Cloning Act to provide that someone who transfers an embryo that has been created by this technique, would be guilty of an offence, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Dr Deirdre Madden said that this type legislation should be examined by Health Minister Micheal Martin for use in an Irish context.