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.