Right-to-life laws must be clarified, says FG's Twomey

Fine Gael TD Liam Twomey has called for clarification on when exactly a human embryo enjoys the right-to-life protections contained in the Irish Constitution.

Dr Twomey said today there was no point in discussing elements of a report on assisted human reproduction until this situation had been clarified by the Government or the Supreme Court.

Speaking at a meeting of the Oireachtas health committee, he said there was still confusion about whether embryos created through IVF enjoyed constitutional protection before they had been implanted in the womb.

Department of Health official Brian Mullen told the committee that the Government had not yet given any serious consideration to the issue.