Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for attending. Their contributions have been informative. This discussion is probably much more highbrow than what we are used to, but it is good to have it. What is happening in Ukraine has put a focus on food sovereignty. Covid has been mentioned. There is probably no more pertinent a week for the witnesses to appear before us on this issue.

Teagasc will be appearing before us later. I am unsure as to whether the witnesses before us now have seen its opening statement, but Dr. O'Mara's submission reads:

However, since the European Court of Justice ruling in 2018, the European Food Safety Authority concluded that editing techniques do not pose any more hazards than conventional breeding. A multitude of scientific organisations across the EU have arrived at a similar conclusion.

We agree, Teagasc agrees and the witnesses agree, but this is a battle that we will have to take to the EU. Of EU countries, we seem to be the most adversely affected in terms of farm to fork and our ability to produce. Where the witnesses' peers across Europe and the experience of European academics are concerned, is there an appetite to take this on at European level or are we swimming against the tide?