Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I read Dr. O'Reilly's statement. It is very interesting. I have only two queries. The Irish position is referred to on page 3. Ireland’s position on the proposal has been informed by a number of factors, including the input of the European Food Safety Authority. I might add that we do not have sight of that organisation's opinion. It would be helpful to have it. The European Food Safety Authority is a significant body. Dr. O'Reilly also referred to the interagency GMO group and the national consultation, which, he says, has strong support. Let us deal with the consultation first. It was initiated on 25 September 2023. There is no publication that I know of, and I have checked. I know of no document about the consultation. We know that a substantial number, namely 60, submissions were received as part of the public consultation. As a member of the committee, I have not had sight of these. I looked at the Government press office statements of the Departments today to see if they are available. There was a great announcement about this public consultation and the importance of it. The Department advertised it in a number of publications and 60 submissions were received. I understand that a significant number of those were in favour but that there were people who had concerns. If we are going to do proper scrutiny of this process, we should know the details of the submissions. I do not know if Dr. O’Reilly can share them with us now. We are not under any pressure to sign off on this today. Dr. O’Reilly might confirm whether we are under any tight timelines in the context of the process. I am a bit concerned.

There are two things I am asking. One is for the European Food Safety Authority report to be shared with us. If we are going to engage in an exhaustive analysis of this, we need to see the document. I would also like a summary of the public consultation that the Department undertook, which was announced with great gusto in the context of what was being done, etc. That is fine, but there is no report that I know of. Those are my two asks, and I think they are reasonable.

Are we under time pressure when it comes to this process? Mr. O'Reilly referred to a new Parliament being in place before we can move forward. He touched on the trilogue process. That will be a matter for the new Parliament and the new Commission, so maybe we do have enough time. If we have enough time, I make the case to the Chair that we do not proceed to make a decision on this process tonight - that is a matter for the committee and its members – until we have those two items, namely the report of the European Food Safety Authority, because it is important, and some understanding of the 60 submissions relating to the public consultation, which were deemed important by the Department. If we are going to have a consultation process, we must be informed by it. I assume the Department has an expert summary or analysis of those submissions.