Seanad report: The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, said that this country would be abiding by its stance in Europe on Embryonic Stem Cell Research.
It was not appropriate to oppose the European Union proposals as currently drafted as it did not allow for EU funding for any research in this country which would not satisfy Irish ethical or legal requirements.
However, Ms Harney said that as a result of yesterday's European Parliament vote there might be uncertainties as to what the European Commission would do.
What Ireland would be voting for, if a vote was called, was for guidelines, safeguards and regulations and not for allowing stem cell research to be carried out in a free-for-all environment.
Several Fianna Fáil members spoke out against the Tánaiste's approach. Mr Don Lydon said they must accept that our vote in Europe had some relevance or alternatively it had no relevance. If it had no relevance then we must question the relevance of our membership of the EU.
Mr John Dardis (PD) had said that we had no right to foist our views on other members of the Union. That was true on most issues. "But this is not about VAT on cars. This is about human life and the sanctity of human life".
Mr Lydon told the Tánaiste that it seemed that she was being given the power to do "an awful thing" in Europe in a short time. "I am asking you not to go down the road to destruction and death but to life and hope and to stand up and be a moral leader not just for Ireland but for Europe."