Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister. I am a little disappointed with his reply. My question was on genetically modified crops. Sinn Féin is of the view that the island of Ireland should be designated a GM-free zone. Those who propagate GM crops claim they do so to save the hungry poor of the world. They are doing no such thing; what they are doing is making a small number of people extremely wealthy.

That responsibility for genetic modification is spread over three Ministries is unsatisfactory. There is enough international experience to show GM crops have not solved the problem of food supply and that they have the potential to damage other crops. Their promotion inhibits research into more traditional and natural solutions to the problems associated with crop growth, disease and wastage.

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