The Government is set to press ahead with its support for EU regulations on stem-cell research despite growing concerns within Fianna Fáil that the framework will allow work on human embryos.
As it emerged last night that the full Cabinet had not yet discussed the proposals, more TDs and senators made their reservations public.
Their concerns will be discussed at a meeting this evening of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party, where a motion has been tabled to urge the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, to oppose the EU measure.
Ms Harney has said she will vote in Brussels for the framework because she does not want such research carried out in an unregulated environment. "I do not want to see a free-for-all in this area like exists in other parts of the world," she said yesterday.
The Government spokeswoman said last night the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, fully supported her stance. "The Tánaiste outlined the Government decision quite clearly on a number of occasions and that's the Taoiseach's position also. It's not the Tánaiste's decision. It's a Government decision," she said.
But with a large number of senior and backbench figures within Fianna Fáil stating publicly that they oppose the policy, the decision is expected to be discussed this morning at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet.
Ms Harney was interrupted yesterday by a member of Youth Defence on the plinth at Leinster House when giving a television interview. The protest group also interrupted a function she attended at the Guinness Storehouse in central Dublin.
Her spokesman said there had been no need or requirement to bring the matter to the full Cabinet because the discussion concerned regulations which required no new Irish legislation. He said Ms Harney had discussed the proposal with the relevant Cabinet members, who were the Taoiseach; the Minister for Health, Mr Martin; and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen.
Asked whether all were happy with the decision, he said he was not aware of any dissension. "All I can say is that it was an agreed position."
While senior Fianna Fáil sources said the issue was to be discussed this evening, they said it was not certain a vote would be taken on the motion. Mr Ahern is expected to attend the meeting.
Fine Gael last night sought a full Dáil debate on the issue. Its leader, Mr Enda Kenny, is expected to raise the matter today with Mr Ahern. "We find it totally unacceptable that the Tánaiste should enter international commitments in this sensitive matter without having engaged in meaningful and extensive consultation with the Dáil," he added.
Stem cells have the capacity to develop into any human cell. As such, scientists believe they can develop mechanisms to use them to reverse degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. While research on adult stem cells is not a problem for Fianna Fáil TDs and senators, many of them consider embryonic stem-cell research as a breach of an embryo's right to life.
With senior figures such as the chairman of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party, Mr Séamus Kirk, already on the record in their opposition to research on embryos, many others took a similar line yesterday. They included the chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, and TDs Mr Noel O'Flynn, Mr Pat Carey, Mr Joe Callanan, and Mr Tony Killeen.
With some others, including a former minister, expressing their concerns in private, only one TD, Mr Barry Andrews, said he supported the Government position.
Mr O'Flynn said: "I would have grave reservations about the use of it. I think there are moral issues here. I'd be guided by the church on it."
Mr Carey said: "I would be uneasy about the embryo part of it, I'd have to say. I'm still of the view that it must be possible to carry out that work on adult stem cells."