Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I know we are not but if we were talking about co-existence in one area where there was foot-and-mouth disease and another area where we wanted to keep it out, I do not think the Minister of State would be so sanguine about the issue. I know the Minister of State's reply is probably as up to date as possible but I have a leak of information from the World Trade Organisation ruling which follows the complaint by the US, Canada and Argentina. It states that the World Trade Organisation has ruled that the EU has violated international rules. However, a Commission spokesperson with more integrity than some, said that Europe will continue to set its own rules on the import and sale of GMO foods. It is a matter of making a stand and not just going along with what seems to be the most powerful corporate interests that are not operating in the interests of Irish farmers. Neither do they operate in the interests of the EU's population, 79% of whom are consistently opposed to GM products. We depend on those people for our markets.

More than 3,400 local authorities throughout the EU, including Meath County Council, Clare County Council and Bray Town Council, have declared themselves as GMO-free areas. Does the Minister of State consider it important to stand with the democratically declared decisions of those local authorities and ensure that their rights to self-determination are protected? Will he also take on board the failure of co-existence? It is clear from a report in the Irish Examiner that co-existence is not working in Spain, for example. Two Spanish farming organisations tested 40 farms and found unwanted GM material on seven of them. In one case, the contamination was 12.6%. The Minister of State may consider that co-existence is the bee's knees but he will get a rude awakening when people come banging on his door saying he said it would work but it did not.

We should apply the rigours of scientific evidence to date. We should also apply the precautionary principle we were supposed to be signing up to in the EU and ensure we do not find ourselves closing the stable door when the horse has bolted. If we effectively become a GM country it will be serious in terms of our future status as a clean, green food island. The Minister of State should encourage farmers who have already taken the initiative of having GM-free farms.

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