Dr. Thomas McLoughlin:

In June 2020, the European Commission had to withdraw the power from the 27 member states when they placed the vaccines on the market to protect the population of Europe because it is very bureaucratic system. Most of those vaccines were produced using GM technology but many people in Ireland or, indeed, across the European Union did not realise that happened so the European Commission had to expedite the whole thing. If it had not done so, or we could be still waiting for vaccines. Ironically, it is the same GM technology that produces plants as produced the Oxford-AstraZenica vaccine. Science and gene editing are hugely important. If we do not use it in the European Union, then we will have to import all of their food and our farmers will be doing nothing and that will be an awful shame. That is why I am adamant about this matter.

Again, I thank the member for raising this topic and suggesting that we come in. I also appreciate that the members have listened to us. As someone who has worked in this area, and I retired five years, I felt there was an onus on me as a former regulator who knew a bit about the regulations and where they are going in Europe. Things do not happen that fast in Europe, and I am a little bit concerned.