Dr. Ewen Mullins:

Things have changed from what they were 25 or 30 years ago. As Deputy Carthy said, at that time there was a precautionary approach because the technologies were new in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Things have evolved. As far as I know, farmers currently sign a contract or an agreement. If there was a development in Ireland or Europe in that regard, we would be talking about standard GM crops, those that are grown in North America, whether they be insect resistant or newer crops that are drought resistant. On editing, from listening to the European Commission, and to use the language it used, the Commission has said the current legislation is not fit for purpose and is too rigid relative to how science has advanced during the past ten years.