Roche supports Harney stance on stem-cell rules

MARY HARNEY’S support of EU stem-cell research guidelines was backed by Minister for Europe Dick Roche yesterday, as he appeared to suggest some of his own Fianna Fáil colleagues didn’t know what they were talking about.

Despite continued opposition from Fianna Fáil backbenchers and pro-life groups, the Tánaiste will continue to back regulations for the €1.1bn EU stem cell research fund at a Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels tomorrow.

Referring to a lack of informed debate, Mr Roche regarded as being a firm, but not extremist, pro-life supporter said the Government was right to seek regulations to be introduced since the idea of having no guidelines in place for the research was ridiculous.

"The idea that there should be guidelines in place is self evidently correct. To be fair to the Tánaiste, I don't think she got a fair hearing from some of the critics," he said.

Identifying the critics as being on the political side, Mr Roche said some people has not actually read what Ms Harney had said on the issue. "I would prefer to see a situation where there are controls than not controls."

Admitting to having reservations about stem-cell research, Mr Roche said if it could actually provide treatments for degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimers, then it would be hard to say 'no' to the research and he regretted the lack of reasonable discussion on the issue.

"One of the problems we have in this country is we can't listen to the other side of the argument. I would hope there will be more informed debate than we had in the last two weeks," he said.

During last year's abortion referendum, the Wicklow TD became embroiled in an acrimonious spat with his constituency colleague, Labour Party health spokesperson Liz McManus, in Dáil Éireann.

Accused of calling Deputy McManus a "pro-abortionist", Mr Roche was labelled "a thug", "a slithering political lizard" and a "guttersnipe" by opposition politicians amid ugly scenes in Leinster House.

The official record shows he said to Deputy McManus: "You're pro-abortion," and Mr Roche denied making the alleged remark, stating that he was reasonably articulate.

He said at the time: "To say pro-abortionist makes no sense. You are either an abortionist or you are not. What I said was 'If you are pro-abortion, why aren't you honest enough to just come out and say so?'," he said at the time.

Also yesterday, an internet opinion poll on RTE's website showed a sizeable majority of people supported stem cell research.

The RTE Interactive Poll revealed that 62% were in favour, 29% against and nine said they maybe in favour, but the internet polls involves people volunteering their views, rather than being asked.