EU postpones vote on stem cell research

The controversial EU vote over funding stem-cell research has been postponed until next week, the Tánaiste confirmed tonight.

Mary Harney, in Brussels for the Council of Ministers meeting, is expected to vote in favour of resuming EU funding for the research despite angry opposition from both politicians and members of the public.

She said discussions were taking place with a view to strengthening and reinforcing the guidelines and she was hopeful agreement could be reached.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said earlier that vote was about establishing proper guidelines and the Government had no reason to oppose it.

During a Fianna Fáil parliamentary meeting last night the Ms Harney stressed that the EU proposals were about the adoption of specific procedures, not whether or not the research would take place.

The deputy said she is backing the research because it will not be taking place in Ireland, and therefore would not impose on Irish ethical and legal requirements and that she would rather EU member states carried out the research with proper safeguards, rather than it be a “free for all.”

The Catholic church and the Pro-Life Campaign have called on the Government to reject the proposals.

A protest was held against the research at the Dáil yesterday when eight demonstrators chained themselves to railings outside Ms Harney’s office.

The EU has approved €1.1bn for stem cell research in a programme adopted in December 2001.

But the EU imposed a moratorium on research pending the production of guidelines which ends in December this year.

Ireland has three votes out of a total of 87 at the Council of Ministers vote, now due to take place on December 3.