Stem cell research may be regulated

Irish clinics that carry out stem cell research may be regulated under new Government legislation, it emerged today.

The Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children today begins hearings on the ethics and legality of the controversial practice to assist human reproduction.

Committee chairman John Moloney said that up to nine clinics operating in Ireland currently assist the birth of up to 1,000 babies every year.

The Fianna Fáil TD said: “As an all-party committee, we will have to decide if we need regulation in this important area and make recommendations to the Government on the issue.”

Mr Moloney recently travelled to Italy to study new developments in embryonic stem cell research.

The committee will begin hearings today on the recent report from the Commission on Assistant Human Reproduction.

The report said that embryos should only enjoy legal protection after being implanted in a womb.