Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank everybody for their contributions today. Like many citizens, I share concerns about this at the outset. There are two aspects, with the first being the safety of genetically modified produce, while the crucial issue is the motivation behind many of the main producers of genetically modified foods. When we consider the five countries involved - the United States, Canada, India, Argentina and Brazil - and the companies, such as Monsanto, as named by Senator Ó Domhnaill, with a control factor, the food chain of the world could be in the hands of a few people. That may be the motivation. The consequences for generations to come could be startling.

The Department of Health is responsible for examining the use of genetically modified organisms for food purposes. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has responsibility for examining the import and use of genetically modified feed and the control measures for cultivation post-commercialisation if that arises.

Is there joined-up thinking? Is there a forum whereby there is a linkage between the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding the safety aspect of it?

On cross contamination, trials have been carried out in this country on growing GM produce alongside the natural production of food with regard to cross contamination, the effects of it and how it affects the natural produce. What is the percentage of the contamination as a consequence of that? I believe Spain produces 90% of GM production in Europe. Again, we are talking about very low income economies being very vulnerable to being, perhaps, exploited for that purpose. Also, there is the fact that climate would be a factor, because Portugal is one of the bigger producers as well. There is also Romania and the Czech Republic. Countries such as Germany, France and the more affluent countries of the European Union have severe restrictions on it. That poses a question. Abuse is probably the wrong word, but the weaker and more vulnerable economies are being used for production and perhaps being exploited for that purpose.

With regard to unauthorised GM crops, is there any mechanism to prevent them finding their way into what is described as the authorised sector? We saw what happened across Europe when there was the scandal last year with horse meat in the various different chains and how easily that could be done.

Regarding the tests being carried out by the European Food Safety Authority and so forth, who carries out those tests on behalf of the food safety authority? Who has the contract for doing that? Who pays for it? If companies are carrying out tests on behalf of a food safety authority, there is the issue of the bona fides of the people who carry them out. Where does the funding for it come from? Is it paid for by the European taxpayer? Do any contributions come from the sector itself, such as the big production companies in GM production? Again, with regard to the safety point of view, can the Department of Health representatives, in particular, say in absolute terms that they are quite satisfied with the safety of that food, be it in the food chain or the feed chain? The fact that it is in the feed chain automatically means it finds its way into the food chain because we are eating it. Will they give their views on that?