Madam, - I was surprised that The Irish Times, which prides itself on being the paper of record, could not find space to mention that six Irish MEPs voted for the European Parliament's proposals on embryo stem cell research on November 19th.
I realise that the news story was the vote by six Fianna Fáil MEPs against their own Government's stance. Nevertheless it is important to record that some of us at least are prepared to acknowledge the diversity of Europe in practice as well as in rhetoric. To put it bluntly, there is no religious consensus in Europe.
Stem cell research may, in time, hold the key to restoring and regenerating many vital bodily functions lost in various devastating illnesses and injuries. Despite propaganda to the contrary, embryonic stem cells offer the best potential at this stage. This possibility that we might in future be able to treat successfully Huntington's, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's diseases, spinal cord injuries, strokes, burns, heart diseases, diabetes, and osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis should not be abandoned.
The proposal is for EU funding of such research only in member-states where funding is requested. It would involve embryos created for medically-assisted IVF treatment but now "supernumerary" and which would otherwise be destroyed. Embryos would have to be donated voluntarily with informed consent and without payment. Researchers would have to comply fully with comprehensive ethical and legal rules and would be funded only where they meet agreed objectives and where there was no adequate alternative.
I am aware of the sensitivity of this issue for many sincere religious believers. It is not appropriate, however, for some religious leaders to seek to impose their particular theology on all of humankind. By demanding that Irish MEPs in the European Parliament this week, or the Irish Government in the Council of Ministers on November 27th, should block this research funding option for others who don't share their theological position is intolerant of other sincerely held and equally valid views.
It is particularly wrong to claim, as Dana Scallon MEP has repeatedly done, that embryo research is unconstitutional and illegal in Ireland. The fact is that the Irish Constitution and Irish law is silent on such research. The constitutional position on abortion, in my view, is intended to defend the "unborn" in the womb. Even so, it also correctly allows abortion in certain circumstances.
It would therefore be morally wrong for Irish politicians to dogmatically rule out embryo research which holds out the possibility of enhancing the quality of life of countless millions of people suffering from deadly diseases and that of their carers. - Yours, etc.,
PROINSIAS DE ROSSA, MEP, Vice-President, European Socialist Group, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2.