Madam, - I am writing, as one of the very few scientists in Ireland involved in stem cell research, to ask that the Government should oppose allocation of EU funding for research involving the use of human embryonic stem cells.
A decision will be taken on this in November, and several countries, including Italy, Germany and Portugal, will oppose funding for such research. Ireland should join them.
Human embryonic stem cells are available only as a result of deliberate destruction of individual human beings at a very early stage in their existence. While research with these cells could possibly lead to cures for diseases, the end cannot justify the means: it would clearly be wrong to kill adults or children randomly in order to deal with a shortage of organ donors. It is likewise wrong to kill early embryos to make stem cells available for research.
Research funds should be directed instead to support investigation of adult, neonatal, cord blood or placental human stem cells, and animal stem cells - these less publicised avenues of research are just as likely as human embryonic stem cells to lead to cures for diseases.
It has been argued that, as long as such work does not take place in Ireland, we should not try to impose our views on other countries. We cannot, with integrity, take this opt-out. If the EU decides to support such research the pressure on Irish scientists to take part will be impossible to resist in the medium term.
In any case where a fundamental human right is involved, Ireland cannot be neutral - if it is right to dispose of early human embryos why are we not going to do this work in Ireland? If it is wrong, and this is why we won't allow it in Ireland, then how can we support spending Irish taxpayers' money on such research wherever it takes place? We cannot with any integrity or credibility have it both ways.
If Ireland supports this sort of research we will have crossed a threshold into abuse of basic human rights under the guise of technological innovation, which will lead down a very dangerous road for society. If this Government takes this path, it will bear a very heavy responsibility, and it has no mandate from the Irish people to do so. - Yours etc.,
MARTIN CLYNES,
Professor of Biotechnology,
Dublin City University,
Dublin 9.