Is Ireland is danger of being left behind due to lack of stem cell research laws?

Photo issued by Cell Press showing how scientists have succeeded in obtaining stem cells from human embryos cloned from skin. Photograph: Eric Baker/OHSU/PA

Embryonic stem cells are highly-prized because they can turn into any type of cell in the body, like heart cells, muscles or neurons. However, the research is controversial because it can involve destroying embryos and raises the vexed question of when life begins .

As a result, successive governments have failed to grapple with this area of stem cell research and the wider field of assisted human reproduction.

This is despite the recommendations of advisory groups and State bodies over the course of a decade or more.

Ireland is one of the few European countries that does not have legislation or meaningful regulation to guide this kind of research.

This gap leaves scientists caught in a web of ethical uncertainty at a time when the States official policy is to promote research and development in these kinds of cutting-edge fields.

Ironically, theres no law or Constitutional obstacle standing in the way of embryonic stem cell research. In 2009 the Supreme Court ruled in Roche vs Roche an embryo custody case that the Constitution did not offer protection to the embryo once it was outside the womb.

In essence, there is no legal hurdle, says Deirdre Madden, a senior lecturer in law at University College Cork and who has sat on various Government advisory bodies. The real obstacle, as I understand it, remains in the area of funding due to the lack of legislative support.

For example, Science Foundation Ireland the main source of funding for researchers in the area of leading edge technology says it is not in a position to fund research using human embryonic stem cells until there is legislation governing the area.

The Irish Stem Cell Foundation argues that the legislative gap is damaging investment and job creation, and threatening our global competitiveness

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Is Ireland is danger of being left behind due to lack of stem cell research laws?