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.

Cardinal Connell warned such research would involve the destruction of living human embryos. “It is not just about what happens to embryos,” he said, “it is just as much about what becomes of a society which consents to the destruction of innocent human life. It is a contradiction to seek to save lives by funding death.”

The cardinal urged: “At this eleventh hour, I make a personal appeal to the Taoiseach and to the Tánaiste to ensure that Ireland takes a prophetic stand in defence of human life by voting against this proposal.”

The Pro-Life Campaign has also demanded a full Cabinet debate on the EU proposal.

The group said a collective Cabinet decision should be taken on whether or not Ireland supports the proposed funding of stem cell research.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said yesterday he planned to raise the matter in the Dáil in advance of the EU vote. He also wants to establish whether the Tánaiste has the support of her Government colleagues.

Last week, Ms Harney told the Seanad she intended to vote in favour of EU funding of stem cell research.

Deputy Kenny said: “The Tánaiste’s decision takes no account of the unanimous view of the Oireachtas Enterprise Committee which scrutinised this proposal. Fine Gael wants to see far more debate and information on this complex issue.”

Dr Ruth Cullen, of the Pro-Life Campaign, said: “It is utterly unacceptable at present that the decision on whether Ireland should fund destructive embryo research rests solely with Ms Harney and her department.

“On this occasion it is not a simple routine decision. It is about the right to life itself and the value as a society we wish to place on human life.”