Harney should move against embryo research
Germany, Italy, Portugal, Austria and Luxembourg deserve great credit for their principled stance against such research.
To its shame, the Government did not assist the efforts of these countries.
Following the council of ministers meeting, EU Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin threatened to proceed with funding embryonic stem-cell research on a case-by-case basis, despite admitting the situation is now legally dubious.
Given the scale of opposition within the EU, this would be a most imprudent and divisive course of action. At the very least Tánaiste Mary Harney should make immediate representations to the EU commission that no funding be released for this unethical research.
Rather than causing unregulated research, the decision to postpone the vote affords ministers an opportunity to reflect on the ethical concerns expressed by many people in recent weeks against EU-funded destruction of human embryos.
Serious consideration should now be given exclusively to funding adult stem cell research, which is scientifically promising and ethically non-controversial.
This entire saga also raises searching questions about the merits of further European integration for Ireland, as the Government cannot be relied upon to take a stand on important right-to-life issues at international meetings.
Dr Ruth Cullen,
Pro-Life Campaign,
34, Gardiner Street Upper,
Dublin 1.
