Where’s the problem if lives can be saved?
She is right that the Government do not have a specific mandate to authorise it.
Governments are mandated, on election, to implement their manifestos: we all know how seriously they take that.
However, they cannot be expected to anticipate events up to five years ahead, and it would be unreasonable to expect them to conduct a referendum on every major unforeseen issue.
They are elected to govern. They can be lobbied individually or collectively by their constituents and should then get on with the job.
Stem cell research is an emotive issue. My (very limited) understanding is that at least some investigation can be carried out on human material resulting from miscarriages or afterbirth.
Presumably this material would otherwise be buried or incinerated it does not seem to raise a great moral dilemma instead to use it for research which could be lifesaving. After all, people donate their bodies or organs for research or medical training.
One thing is quite certain: this research will be carried out somewhere in the world and should some benefit accrue, the human race, including many of the religious fundamentalists, will be quite happy to avail of it.
David Roberts,
Gloundine,
Castlegrove,
Mallow,
Co Cork.
