Tanaiste accused of hypocrisy over stem-cell vote

The Tánaiste, Ms Mary Harney, has been accused of hypocrisy in her support for EU regulations on stem-cell research.

Former Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, said it was hypocritical of Ms Harney to vote to allow Irish taxpayers' money be used for something in another country which was illegal in this State.

Mr Bruton was responding to comments made by Ms Harney in the Dáil this evening in which she insisted the regulations would not lead to stem-cell research in this State.

Ms Harney defended her position to vote in favour of the regulations, saying "guidelines and safeguards" were far preferable to a free-for-all environment which existed in other parts of the world.

She said the research related to stem cells from super-numary embryos that remain after IVF treatment and embryos created before the June 2002 cut-off date.

Ms Harney, who is due to vote on the issue in Brussels on Thursday, said the regulations related to embryos which were in existence and the creation of new embryos for such research was not being considered.

The EU has approved some €1.1 billion in funding for a limited programme of stem cell research.

The Commission wants to allow EU funding in member-states where such research is not legal. No such research currently takes place in Ireland.

Ms Harney has previously said that the proposals would not permit the funding of any research activity in Ireland that breached Irish ethical or legal requirements.

Stem cells have the capacity to develop into any human cell and scientists believe they can develop mechanisms to use them to reverse degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis.

However some believe the use of embryonic stem-cells represents a breach of an embryo's right to life.