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JOINT COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 2003

Vol. 1 No. 35

UN Convention on Human Cloning.

I received the following motion from Deputy Gay Mitchell, that this committee requests an immediate report from the Minister for Foreign Affairs setting out the Government's position on proposals for a United Nations convention on human cloning.

By way of parliamentary question I asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs about Ireland's position at the Sixth Legal Committee of the United Nation's General Assembly which has been discussing the elaboration of an international convention to prohibit certain, or all, aspects of human cloning. The Minister's response on 23 October was that the Government was considering its position on the two proposals.

My understanding of the two proposals is that a Costa Rican proposal simply bans human cloning while a Belgian proposal would allow human cloning for research purposes only, after which it would be destroyed. I am aghast that any consideration whatsoever would be given to human cloning.

It was a great surprise to me that a decision of this kind would be considered without seeking the direction of the Oireachtas, which is why I tabled this motion. From what I hear informally, I understand the Government is about to make up its mind, or has made up its mind, to vote for the Costa Rican motion and not to consider human cloning in any context. I hope this is the case. I do not see how any other position could be arrived at. I am a bit perturbed that issues of such magnitude can be discussed in international fora without some direction from the Oireachtas in the first instance. That is a valid point, irrespective of who is in government. Governments of the day should realise that they must consult with the Oireachtas on such major issues. I hope to get some kind of formal reply and that the Chairman or committee staff will be in a position to enlighten us following the tabling of this motion.

We do not have any response. I understood that we would agree the motion. It would be best to circulate a response as soon as we get one. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The joint committee went into private session at 3.35 p.m. and adjourned at 3.49 p.m. sine die.

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