Cardinal’s plea on cell research

THE Archbishop of Dublin yesterday made an eleventh-hour appeal to the Government to rescind a decision and vote against EU plans to fund embryonic stem cell research.

Cardinal Desmond Connell’s call came as Fine Gael also announced plans to raise the issue in the Dáil.

Tánaiste Mary Harney is expected this week to support the EU proposal on the grounds it provides a set of strict guidelines, with no member state being forced to do anything unethical. The Council of Ministers, including Ms Harney, will most likely ratify the proposal in Brussels on Thursday.