Vol. 553 No. 5
148 Mr. Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position which the Government will take at the EU Council of Ministers in relation to embryo research; if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of pro-life groups in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14650/02]
The implementation and funding of the European Union's research and technology development policy is done through multi-annual framework programmes. The 6th Framework Programme, which will run from 2003-2006, will allocate over €16 billion for research activities over a wide range of areas. These include genomics and biotechnology for health, including research to combat major diseases; information society technologies, nanotechnologies and nanosciences, food quality and safety, sustainable development, global change and ecosystems. A fundamental aim of the pro gramme is to enhance EU competitiveness over the next four to five years, and also to contribute to the establishment of a European Research Area, which would effectively compete with the significant research effort of the USA and Japan.
The question of research in the area of human genomics is a sensitive one and I am fully aware of the concerns expressed in this regard. In the context of negotiations on the 6th Framework Programme, Ireland's position with regard to research on embryos was set out very clearly at the Research Council of Minister's meeting on 10 December last. At that Council, Ireland stated that all research activities under the new framework programme are to be carried out in compliance with fundamental ethical principles, particularly with regard to the protection of human dignity and human life, in genomics and biotechnology research. In this regard, Ireland quoted Article 40.3.3 of our Constitution and made clear that any research carried out in Ireland would have to comply with this provision.
Furthermore, on 3 June last, Ireland, in supporting the adoption of the common position on the framework programme as amended by the European Parliament, joined with Austria, Italy, Germany and Portugal in a joint declaration for the Council minutes. This joint declaration emphasised the importance of an acceptable solution being found for the inclusion of bioethical guidelines for research under the 6th Framework Programme in areas of reproductive and therapeutic cloning, human germ line intervention and embryonic stem cell research. In this context, the signatories to the joint declaration agreed to work together to elaborate and include, as part of the decision on the specific programmes, more detailed guidelines regarding bioethical principles. The specific programmes will outline the actual research programmes to give effect to the framework programme.
It is also worth noting that the joint declaration further pointed out that, in any event, any research activities arising from the programme will have to respect the legislation, regulations and ethical guidelines in countries where the research will be carried out.
