Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 3

Written Answers. - Stem Cell Research.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

52 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the matters discussed and conclusions reached at his meeting with Catholic Bishops at their meeting on 29 October 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25535/03]

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

107 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the matters discussed and conclusions reached at his meeting on 29 October 2003 with a six-member delegation from the Catholic hierarchy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26519/03]

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

139 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his meeting with the Catholic Bishops on 29 October 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25597/03

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 107 and 139 together.

I accompanied the Taoiseach at a meeting with representatives from the Irish Bishops Conference on 29 October to discuss a number of issues which had arisen in international fora including embryo stem cell research, cloning, euthanasia and aspects of the ongoing Intergovernmental Conference. The meeting allowed a full and useful exchange of views on these questions.

The European Commission's proposal for the funding of embryo stem cell research in limited circumstances is to be the subject of a debate in the European Parliament next week and of discussion at the forthcoming meeting of the Competitiveness Council on 27 November, at which Ireland will be represented by the Tánaiste.

The Taoiseach and I explained the Government's broad approach to funding for embryonic stem cell research which, primarily, has been to ensure that funding would not be available for research in Ireland which is not compatible with our law and ethical guidelines. Ireland supported the current moratorium at EU level on funding for such research and is anxious to see the greatest possible safeguards applying even in those member states where such research is legal and considered ethical.

It is relevant to point out that, in the absence of agreement on the guidelines proposed by the Commission, the moratorium would be due to expire at the end of this year and a very uncertain situation regarding the availability of such funding would then arise. This is undesirable. Overall, the Government remains closely engaged in the discussions which will continue over the coming weeks and has taken note of the views of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business.

The Taoiseach and I made clear the Government's continued strong opposition to human cloning. In view of this, we indicated that Ireland, following a review of the situation, would co-sponsor a resolution in the United Nations proposing the elaboration of a mandate to begin negotiations on a UN Convention which would prohibit both the reproductive and therapeutic cloning of human beings. We also emphasised that the Government is totally opposed to euthanasia.

As regards the Intergovernmental Conference, we reiterated that the Government favours the inclusion of a reference in the EU Constitutional Treaty to Europe's Christian heritage and will be supportive of appropriate language which might gain agreement.

The representatives of the Irish Bishops Conference also set out their views on these important questions. Both sides agreed that the meeting had provided a useful exchange and that dialogue would be continued on the issues raised.