Vol. 572 No. 6
283 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children the Government's policy in regard to the introduction of legislation on EU funded schemes that involve the deliberate destruction of human embryos at any stage of development here or in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23919/03]
There are no plans to introduce legislation that involves the destruction of human embryos. Currently, it is the position that there is no legislation governing research on embryos. Medical practice is governed by guidelines issued by the Medical Council. These state that the creation of new forms of life for experimental purposes or the deliberate and intentional destruction of human life already formed is professional misconduct.
I am conscious of concerns about the absence of a statutory framework to regulate assisted human reproduction, including the area of research on embryos. With a view to addressing these concerns in a comprehensive and informed way, and following a Government decision on the matter, I established the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction in March 2000 with the following terms of reference: "to prepare a report on the possible approaches to the regulation of all areas of assisted human reproduction and the social, ethical and legal factors to be taken into account in determining public policy in this area." I understand that the commission will complete its report in the next few months. Its recommendations will then provide the basis for informing public debate prior to the finalisation of any policy proposals.
Ireland's position in relation to EU initiatives in this general area is to hold the line that we retain the right to decide what is legal and ethical in this country. Ireland has been successful to date in safeguarding our position in this respect. Similarly, Ireland accepts that it is a matter for each other member state to decide what is legal and ethical in its jurisdiction and that we would not see it as our function to seek to restrict activities that meet these criteria in any member state.
In relation to the matter of EU aid for policies and actions on reproductive and sexual health and rights in developing countries, the position is that a new EU regulation on reproductive and sexual health and rights in developing countries was adopted by the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, on 16 June 2003. The previous regulation expired on 31 December last, having been in force since July 1997. The purpose of both the new and previous regulation is to allow the Commission to continue to support programmes in developing countries in the area of reproductive and sexual health and rights. The Commissions role in relation to development co-operation is laid down in Articles 177-181 of the treaty establishing the European Community.
The regulation forms an important part of the EUs development policy. In particular, the legislation addresses the specific UN millennium development goal relating to maternal health which calls for the reduction of maternal mortality by three quarters over the period 1990 to 2015. Throughout the developing world, and particularly in the poorest countries, hundreds of thousands of women continue to die in childbirth because health systems cannot afford proper medical care and appropriate services.
