Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 1393: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in view of the European Council's recent decision to prevent the Commission overturning genetically modified bans, she will be taking on board the views of the ICSA and local IFA organisations to ensure that agriculture here is GM free. [2463/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that legislation governing the cultivation of GM crops in Ireland is based on EU legislation that has been adopted by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament and which, for the most part, is binding on all Member States. Ireland's general position in developing this legislation is informed by the Government's acceptance of the recommendation set out in the Report of the Inter-Departmental Group on Modern Biotechnology that Ireland's stand at EU level and in international fora should be one of being positive but precautionary. This position acknowledges the benefits of genetic engineering, while maintaining a fundamental commitment to safety and environmental sustainability based on scientific risk assessment and management. This legislation does not provide for the unilateral declaration of GM free countries.

I have noted the views of the two farming organisations mentioned by the Deputy on the use of GM technology in agriculture. The IFA position which is set out in their paper "Meeting the Challenges of WTO and CAP Reform — IFA submission to Government for a Viable Farming and Food Sector and Sustainable Rural Economy" (May 2006) states that "Provided that the use and release of GMOs meet all the detailed regulatory requirements, IFA's assessment of GM technology is that, like science and technology generally, it can have many positive implications for agriculture and food production". The ICSA position as detailed in their submission to my Department on the compilation of the Report "Coexistence of GM and non-GM Crops in Ireland — Report of the Working Group" (September 2005), states that "ICSA believe that GM technology offers no benefit and several disadvantages to Irish farmers. The interest of Irish farmers and the wider agri-food sector would, in our view, be better served by developing the clean, green image of the island".