The European Parliament will today debate a controversial proposal to set conditions for EU funds to be used for scientific research on stem-cells using human embryos.
The European Commission wants to allow funds to be used for research using embryos that were created during in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) before June 27th, 2003.
Under the Commission's proposal, no funds would be available for research that involved the creation of an embryo purely for scientific purposes.
MEPs are deeply divided over the issue, with some conservatives opposing any use of EU funds for work on human embryos while others want to allow research on embryos created after the Commission's cut-off date.
Supporters of stem-cell funding claim that work on human embryos could provide breakthroughs in the treatment of conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Opponents argue that there is little evidence to support the claims made for using human embryos and suggest that EU funds should not be used for work that is banned in some member-states.
Germany and Austria, where stem-cell research on human embryos is banned, are leading opposition to the Commission's proposal. Sweden, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands and Britain allow harvesting stem cells from so-called supernumerary embryos - extras resulting from in-vitro fertilization - under certain conditions. Britain is the only member state that allows the creation of human embryos for stem-cell procurement.
Even if the European Parliament approves one of the three motions on the issue when it votes on Wednesday, industry ministers are unlikely to agree on the proposal when they meet on November 27th. Germany, Italy, Portugal and Austria have indicated that they will vote against the Commission's proposal.
Other countries, such as Britain, could oppose it for the opposite reason, arguing the cut-off date could lead to a shortage of embryos available for research. The Government has yet to indicate precisely where it stands on the issue that has galvanised Christian groups and anti-abortion campaigners throughout Europe.
Members of Youth Defence disrupted a speech by the Tánaiste, Ms Mary Harney, to a Young Progressive Democrats conference in Dublin on Saturday evening. The group staged a walk-in during the PD leader's speech to the conference at Chief O'Neills Hotel, in protest at the Government's support for EU funding of embryo research. Her speech was interrupted for 10 minutes while the protesters were removed from the room.