Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-11-17-Speech-1-070"

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"en.20031117.6.1-070"2
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"Mr President, I welcome the opportunity to speak in this important debate and to put on record – not for the first time – my concern regarding the ethical guidelines for research funding. It is my hope that we can avoid acrimonious debate and respect the right of Members to express freely their views on a subject that is complex, sensitive and, for many, a matter of conscience. Those of us who are not scientists must rely on the judgment and evaluation of professionally qualified people. The fact that there are so many diverse views and divisions amongst scientists must surely bring home to us legislators that this is not a clear-cut issue. Whether we like it or not, the Commission proposal, if carried, will allow experimentation with the very origin of human life and the destruction of human embryos. We have also seen in other areas what can happen through the abuse and misuse of science. To the extent that we are the custodians of the public interest in such a crucial area, we must act with extreme care and reflect and respect the views of our citizens. I do not want to see European Union funds being spent on a practice that is illegal in some countries, including my own country, Ireland, and also in Germany, Austria, Italy and Portugal. Such an act would be a clear infringement of subsidiarity. It is unfair, disingenuous and indeed misleading to say that those who oppose funding for stem cell research are preventing the discovery of cures for serious illnesses. Professionals more qualified than I have proven that this is not so. In a previous debate in this House I said that those who marvel at the wonderment of our creation must act now in the interests of mankind. That time is now."@en1
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