Seanad debates
Wednesday, 19 November 2003
Stem Cell Research: Statements.
Clearly, these are matters for Government, at the end of the day. I will attend a meeting next week, as I did two weeks ago, at which there will be 30 or 40 items on the agenda. I am not, by any means, equating this particular matter with any other issue – it comes into a completely different category and, accordingly, one consults with other Government colleagues who are involved in many of these issues at European level, including the Minister for Health and Children, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. That process will continue. This is not a decision for Mary Harney alone. While there may be a theory that I take decisions on my own, I have no intention of exercising power which I do not have. I do not wish to have anybody under any illusion that I have committed Ireland to something for which it is not prepared to sign up. Unfortunately, however, the position we are adopting is being misunderstood. People think we are engaged in voting Irish money for this research in other countries. That is not the case. What we are setting out to do is to put controls, guidelines and parameters on how this money can be spent. I honestly believe that is very reasonable in all the circumstances.
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