Long Only NI MP To Vote For 'Three-Person' Embryo

Alliance deputy leader Naomi Long was the only MP from Northern Ireland to support a new 'three-person' embryo law designed to help prevent serious diseases passing from mother to child.

MPs voted in favour today of a new law permitting IVF babies to be created using biological material from three different people. The Bill was introduced as a means to help prevent serious genetic diseases.

Mrs Long voted in favour along with 381 other MPs, which saw the approved draft pass. She was the only MP from Northern Ireland to do so.

"While it is likely to be a number of years before these techniques will be ready for trials in a clinical setting, it is incredibly promising they could result in a treatment which would allow women with mitochondrial disease to give birth to healthy children, who are free of a fatal disease," she said.

"The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority previously recommended to the Government to back mitochondria replacement, provided that it is done within a regulatory framework. It further stated that any ethical concerns were outweighed by the arguments in favour of permitting the techniques. The UK is at the cutting edge of this research which could be life changing for many families.

"While I listened carefully to the concerns of those who have reservations about the technique, it is clear that this step was necessary for the further research to be undertaken. It was also confirmed the technique will only be applicable in a limited number of cases after careful assessment for serious mitochondrial disorders. It should not be considered as a slippery slope for other genetic treatments."

(IT/CD)