Madam, - Prof David McConnell (Opinion, November 25th) suspects that the Catholic bishops' views on stem-cell research "do not represent the views of the majority of Irish people on this matter".
This may or not be true.
However does his supposition that "in a few centuries' time the Church will apologise" [for its current position\] smack of a certain arrogance on his behalf? Or perhaps he feels the Church is wrong to express its views on moral/ethical matters of the day. - Yours, etc.,
DERMOT MADDEN, Ashington Dale, Dublin 7.
Madam, - So Fianna Fáil members have "reservations" about stem cell research.
I presume they will be as passionately opposed to Irish people having access to any of the new medical data or procedures that come from the research - lest the words "Fianna Fáil" and "hypocrisy" appear in the same sentence for the first time in history! Say what you will about Mary Harney, but at least she takes a clear position on issues, one way or the other. - Yours, etc.,
JASON O'MAHONY, Coppinger Glade, Stillorgan, Co Dublin.
Madam, - For ethical reasons, Italy, Germany, Poland and Austria find themselves unable to support embryonic stem-cell research. Yet the ethics of its support does not seem to bother our Government.
Should the Government permit a vote in favour of this measure in opposition to the pro-life people of Ireland, the Dáil Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, the substantial vote in the European Parliament and the Catholic Church. Fianna Fáil is going to lose substantial support in the next general election. - Yours, etc.,
IVO O'SULLIVAN, Maretimo Gardens East, Blackrock, Co Dublin.