Dr. Barbara Doyle Prestwich:

There must be some pay back in terms of the investment in research and development. I suppose that is where part of that comes from. The Deputy mentioned Ukraine and food issues. We cannot say that tonight CRISPR is going to solve the problems that have come about with the most recent shocks in the food system. I really think it would be a mistake on our part if we ignored this technology. We are not talking about today or tomorrow. In the near term we need to embrace this technology, and we need an increase in research and development. We have the expertise in our universities. We must increase that expertise and growth facilities to make sure we are ready for the next shock that is going to come along. In my paper I referenced how Ireland is currently comfortably ranked No. 1 on the global food security index but last year it was Singapore and that is now relegated to 17th place. Therefore, this is a very moveable and dynamic index so we should not become complacent in this country. If we are to realise the Government's ambitions in terms of the Green Deal and the farm to fork strategy, then it cannot be business as usual. That is just not possible. The diseases that farmers are faced with are not going to disappear overnight because we have some ambitions in terms of the climate and all the rest. We really need CRISPR technology and, therefore, we need to invest in research in Ireland to make sure we are ready to go. CRISPR is not an overnight solution. We can be doing CRISPR in our laboratories but we need to know how these products will perform at field trial level. Field trials take a little bit of time to develop in terms of proof of concept, conduct analysis and so we need to be ready.