Dr. Thomas McLoughlin:

The ECJ is the final arbiter of EU law. Many people, including those I have been working with, came to the conclusion, when we deciphered the ruling, that it was only speaking in a general sense. We must remember that those are legal people who have no idea about molecular biology or science, although I have no doubt they would probably have consulted people. Academia, farmers and plant breeders were amazed at the decision. When we submitted a report on the Commission's study, which was published last April, we said we believed the Commission had also taken the ECJ's side. The consultation, which has already started, will hopefully be finalised this year and there may be a decision next year. All is not lost, but at the moment nothing is happening as regards putting products on the market. Deputy Carthy is right that in Spain an insect-tolerant maize plant is being used that protects the plant against the European curved corn borer. We do not use it here because we do not have that pathogen. Portugal is also using that plant, which is very small. In 2019, worldwide-----