Stem cell therapy - Scheme must be fully vetted

THE Government has taken the sensible, if easy way out of the stem cell dilemma by signing into Irish law EU regulations governing the quality and safety of this developing but controversial arm of medicine.

As a result, the Swiss company which provides stem cell therapy will be subject to EU rules if it goes ahead with plans to establish its European headquarters in Cork. In a dramatic twist in the controversy surrounding Carrigaline doctor John Murphy, who administers the treatment, the Advanced Cell Therapeutics group yesterday described Cork as the favoured location for its new headquarters.

Now that Brussels has responsibility for policing stem cell research across Europe, there should be no question of the scheme going ahead unless it is fully vetted and approved. In the interests of public health, it must be put under the microscope.