Minister for Foreign Affairs tells pope "No Stem-cell research"

robindch

Didn't hear anything about this until this report -- does anybody know whether or not this policy was announced to Ratzinger first, or to the Irish electorate first?

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2006/06/28/story265429.html

Dermot Ahern makes stem cell resarch pledge to Pope
28/06/2006 - 19:06:19
The Government will ban any EU funding for stem cell research in Ireland, the Irish Foreign Affairs Minister told the Pope today. During a private audience in Rome, Dermot Ahern told Pope Benedict XVI that much of the state’s social policy centres on the family and the role it plays in society. Speaking after the lunchtime meeting in the Vatican, the Louth TD said the Government respected the decision of other EU members states to carry our stem cell research. But he said: “Under the current Framework Programme, Ireland did not object to the EU funding human embryonic stem cell research in member states where it is legal and deemed ethical, that is, where the core principle of respecting ’ethical subsidiarity’ was guaranteed. "In line with our support for ethical subsidiarity, we insist that no EU funding shall be allowed for embryonic stem cell research in Ireland. The corollary of this is, however, that we have to respect the right of other Member States to follow their own consciences in this matter. We appreciate the deep sensitivities that arise in this area, on both sides of the argument. “However, we would be unable to prevent embryonic stem cell research going ahead in many Member States.” The Pope is expected to give a significant speech on the role of the family in the modern world in coming days.

Views on stem-cell research, anybody?

Asiaprod

robindch wrote:

Views on stem-cell research, anybody?

In favor with the proper controls in place

UU

Yes. I share the same view with Asiaprod. I think that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has no right to do that. By making a pledge to the Pope on behalf of Ireland is ridiculous! What is he up to? His spinal cord isn't broken at his neck, he's not confined to being totally paralyzed? Just science vs religion as usual! :rolleyes:

Asiaprod

UU wrote:

Just science vs religion as usual! :rolleyes:

More to the point, when did the Minister of Foreign Affairs' portfolio get to include medical and ethical issues? Who empowered him to speak for the people of Ireland on this issue? I thought that type of issue would require a referendum and a probable change to the constitution.

UU

Asiaprod wrote:

More to the point, when did the Minister of Foreign Affairs' portfolio get to include medical and ethical issues? Who empowered him to speak for the people of Ireland on this issue? I thought that type of issue would require a referendum and a probable change to the constitution.

Yes Asiaprod. That's what I thought also. In reality, it seems to me that he's obviously just trying to please and satisfy the Pope to make himself look good. Stem Cell Research is an extremelly important and serious issue which can't be just decided on the spur of the moment by Dermot Ahern because he's trying to flatter the Pope (and deceiving him for that matter).

And yes, I do understand that some people are opposed to stem cell research and I respect their opinions but there needs to be some sort of vote with proper information on the matter. It seems to me, who knows a great deal about stem cell research, that most are ignorant and have misconceptions about it. Also, the EU actually promotes stem cell research.

robindch

hmm... the plot thickens. Today's Metro rag said that Minister for Enterprise and Employment Michael Martin had backed research and wouldn't be blocking funding:

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/front/2006/0619/3125727164HM1STEM.html

The Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Micheál Martin, defied a call from the Catholic bishops and indicated that the Government will not stand in the way of a decision to allow some EU countries to proceed with the research. Speaking on TV3's The Political Party, Mr Martin indicated that the Government would not be seeking to reverse a decision of the European Parliament on the issue. "Well, it's not that we're approving it for Ireland, because it won't be in Ireland. We believe in Ireland that for social policy issues, that we want to retain the right for Ireland to make up its own mind," said the Minister. "We don't want Europe telling us what to do. The danger I have is that if we start lecturing other countries in terms of what they should do, they could start trying to lecture us, on issues like abortion and other social issues."

When the issue came before the European Parliament last week, the majority of Ireland's 13 MEPs, including all four Fianna Fáil representatives, voted against EU funding for embryonic stem cell research over the next seven years. Nonetheless, the funding was approved and EU cash can now be used for research into human stem cells, both adult and embryonic, depending on the content of each scientific proposal. But strict conditions will continue to apply to the use of human embryonic cells, they agreed. Each project will be required to show that the research could not be conducted with adult stem cells such as those extracted from bone marrow. Fianna Fáil MEP Liam Aylward said in a statement: "My particular concerns are in relation to the right of individual member states to control the research that is carried out in their countries as well as guaranteeing the utmost respect for the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the human being." Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa and Fine Gael MEP Avril Doyle both voted in favour of funding for stem-cell research.

The Irish bishops expressed strong opposition to the move in advance of the vote. "The crucial issue is that using a human embryo as an object of research is nothing short of destruction of human life," a statement from the bishops said. "A question of such profound moral and human significance should not be treated under the heading of research funding."

I wonder which story is true, if either?

juddd

I would not be happy with embryonic stem cell research, I would like to see research done on chord blood stem cells taken from the the chord after a child is born, the stem cells in there are just as good, and the chords are just medical waste anyway, so why not put them to good use?
Stem cells need to be researched as soon as possible, the cells have the potential to cure a hell of alot of diseases that are causing millions to suffer daily, already some people in america have had stem cell therapy for arthritis and various other illnesses, to say we will not study stem cells at all would be a crime against humanity and an insult to those suffering across the glode.

staple

Martin wrote:

Well, it's not that we're approving it for Ireland, because it won't be in Ireland. We believe in Ireland that for social policy issues, that we want to retain the right for Ireland to make up its own mind

Ahern wrote:

In line with our support for ethical subsidiarity, we insist that no EU funding shall be allowed for embryonic stem cell research in Ireland.

I don't see a contradiction between Ahern's and Martin's position. This should really be a politics thread. Ireland won't stand in the way of EU funds being used for stem-cell research in other EU countries; EU funds will not be used in Ireland for stem-cell research. Martin made an announcement on this a while before: was on front of Irish Times http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/front/2006/0619/

Dades

UU wrote:

Yes. I share the same view with Asiaprod. I think that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has no right to do that. By making a pledge to the Pope on behalf of Ireland is ridiculous!

While I agree that the Minister has overstepped the mark, I believe (and I will check with my lawyer), that a pledge to the Pope is not legally binding.

Relevant legisation on the matter is still up for grabs, and no doubt will be more high profile than this.

Scofflaw

Actually, you can read Dermot Ahern's "pledge" to the Pope as a nuanced expression of the same policy stated by Michael Martin - that Ireland won't be conducting stem cell research itself, but the Pope won't get any support from Ireland in trying to change the positions held by other EU members.

cordially,
Scofflaw

robindch

Prezzident Bush has announced his first presidential veto of a bill passed by the Republican-controlled Congress. It's of a bill which would have lifted a ban on federal funding for stem-cell research.

"It crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect, so I vetoed it", said the man who, as governer of Texas, personally presided over the busiest Death Row in the USA, and went on to invade two countries resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of humans.

More here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5193998.stm

stevejazzx

robindch wrote:

Prezzident Bush has announced his first presidential veto of a bill passed by the Republican-controlled Congress. It's of a bill which would have lifted a ban on federal funding for stem-cell research.

"It crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect, so I vetoed it", said the man who, as governer of Texas, personally presided over the busiest Death Row in the USA, and went on to invade two countries resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of humans.

More here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5193998.stm

Yeah heard this this morning, more right wing fundamentalist christain posturing although this time there is considerable pressure from the international community(oh..and em..Michael J. Fox?? he must be incapacitated in some way)