Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Wallace, on her appointment. Given that her constituency is in County Meath, she will start with this hot potato and will not be allowed to drop it, judging by the reaction to the issue I have seen.

Will the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, acknowledge that the trials of GM potato will not have any economic benefit for Irish farmers or consumers? These trials are wholly for the benefit of the company which wants to advertise worldwide that it grew a crop in a country prone to blight. Will the Minister of State acknowledge that the unpopularity of GM products in third countries, which we rely on for markets, particularly in Irish seed potatoes, will be jeopardised by these trials and Scottish seed potatoes will benefit from Ireland's loss, just as Ireland will benefit from Denmark's loss as a result of the cartoon controversy?

What measures will the Department take to compensate for the damage these trials, which are entirely in BASF's interest but are of no benefit to Irish farmers or consumers, will cause in terms of the marketability of Irish seed potatoes? Almost 80% of our potato market is based on roosters, Kerr's pinks and Rush queens. Irish people buy varieties of potatoes and they certainly do not want to buy GM potatoes.

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