Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to keep Ireland genetically modified free, especially in view of the EU decision to allow the growth of genetically modified maize. [24043/04]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The rules governing GMOs are set down in EU legislation, which have been jointly adopted by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers under the co-decision procedure and which are binding on all member states. In particular, Article 22 of EU Directive 2001/18/EC stipulates that member states may not prohibit, restrict or impede the placing on the market of GMOs, as or in products which comply with the requirements of the directive. The directive does, however, have a safeguard clause whereby member states may provisionally restrict or prohibit the use and/or sale of a GMO in its territory on the basis of new or additional scientific evidence becoming available since the date of approval of the GMO.

The cultivation of the GM maize varieties to which he refers is not anticipated in Ireland. This is for two reasons, first, because the specific trait associated with these GM varieties, that is resistance to the European corn borer insect, is not relevant under Irish conditions as the insect is not a significant pest in Ireland and, second, because the varieties in question are unlikely to be suitable for Irish growing conditions.