Arthur Beesley,
Political Reporter
Senior figures in Fianna Fáil are strongly opposing moves by the Government to support an EU framework for stem-cell research on human embryos.
Those expressing public reservations about the move include the chairman of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party, Mr Séamus Kirk, the Minister of State for Health, Mr Ivor Callely, and the chairmen of two Oireachtas committees, Mr Batt O'Keeffe and Mr Donie Cassidy.
The opposition surfaced after the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, confirmed yesterday that she would vote this week in Brussels in favour of a European Commission proposal to sanction research on adult and embryonic stem cells.
The policy was not "personal" to Ms Harney or confined to the PDs, she said. It came after a decision taken in consultation with her Cabinet colleagues, including the Taoiseach, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen.
Mr Ahern did not reply yesterday when asked about the policy. Queries to his office later were passed to that of Ms Harney, who will vote for the proposal next Thursday in her role as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Cardinal Desmond Connell and the Pro-Life Campaign also called yesterday on the Government to vote against the proposal. Cardinal Connell said in a statement that the move would involve the destruction of living human embryos.
"But it is not just about what happens to embryos: it is just as much about what becomes of a society which consents to the destruction of innocent human life. It is a contradiction to seek to save lives by funding death," he said.
"At this eleventh hour, I make a personal appeal to the Taoiseach and to the Tánaiste to ensure that Ireland takes a prophetic stand in defence of human life by voting against this proposal."
Mr Kirk said: "To destroy life is a huge problem. To destroy life in the research process, there would be huge problems with that."
Mr Callely said he had raised his concerns personally with Ms Harney. The chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health, Mr O'Keeffe, and the chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, Mr Cassidy, said they were "totally opposed" to research on embryos.
Others to express concern about the plan included Dublin TD Mr Michael Mulcahy; Wexford TD Mr Tony Dempsey; Mayo TD Mr John Carty, and Roscommon senator Mr Terry Leyden.
Stem cells and echoes of X case:
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