Bio-ethics reforms - Laws need to keep pace with science

REFORM of Ireland’s outdated laws on bio-ethics and other scientific advances is long overdue.

Thus, the emphasis being placed on such matters by the Law Reform Commission (LRC) is welcome.

As seen in the recent frozen embryos case, it is a grey area. This lends special significance to today’s prediction by LRC president Justice Catherine McGuinness that these questions will dominate future changes in the Irish legal system.

Ireland has been lagging behind in its legal response to pressing questions about, for instance, stem-cell research, genetics, cloning and assisted suicide. But, as the former Supreme Court judge points out, there is an appalling tendency in this country to wait until a crisis looms before bringing in reforms.

As witnessed in the embryos case, such issues are invariably left to the courts to decide. It is high time our politicians did what people elect them to do — legislate rather than relying on the judiciary.