Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate with either the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, whoever would be more appropriate, on the issue of genetically modified feedstuffs and food. I do so in view of the fact that we almost had a Private Members' debate on this matter, which would have clarified various points. We discussed the matter previously with the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Sargent.

There is some indication in the programme for Government of an all-Ireland approach on GM foods and feedstuffs. However, when I and the other members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food met yesterday with our colleagues from the Northern Ireland Assembly agriculture committee, they seemed blissfully unaware of an all-island approach. In his capacity as a member of the Green Party and the Acting Leader, I ask Senator Boyle to let me know what exactly is the Government's current policy in this area. Is it simply window-dressing in a document or is there a realistic policy? Perhaps the Government could arrange that the members of the Northern Ireland agriculture committee be made aware of the Government's interest, if any, in having an all-Ireland approach. As I said, when the members of the Oireachtas joint committee met with our counterparts in Belfast they seemed unaware of any such proposals from the Irish Government.