HUMAN embryonic stem cell (HESC) research is promoted publicly on the basis that it will soon cure a variety of human diseases.

IN HIS letter (November 17), Con Hayes presents a well-argued case for permitting the killing of human beings at various stages of development. However, in my opinion there are several flaws in his argument:

THE controversial British ethicist who has said the “demented have a duty to die” is set to speak at a debate in UCC in favour of embryonic stem cell research.

IN HIS letter (November 17), Con Hayes argues that a full human person is not present until long after the early embryo stage in human development and it is therefore ethically permissible to kill the human embryo to further biomedical research.

THE fundamental objection that Prof William Reville (Letters, November 1) has to human embryonic stem cell research (HESCR) is based on his belief that at fertilisation when sperm and ovum join, a full human being comes into existence.

EVEN those who do not believe that the early human embryo is a full human being would sacrifice the embryo in the interests of advancing biomedical research only with misgivings.

I WAS very surprised to hear Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister Michael Martin’s views on conducting embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) in Ireland in his interview on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland (June 29).

LESS than half of students who accepted a science degree place last year had chosen the course as their first preference, according to figures from the Central Applications Office (CAO).

ARE people with disabilities being manipulated in the embryo research debate?

THE place of science in everyday life — from the mobile phone to the microwave — will be among the subjects to be looked at closely at the 41st annual conference of the Irish Science Teachers’ Association (ISTA), in Tralee, Co Kerry, at the weekend.