Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the report she received from the committee she set up in 2004 to look into co-existence issues relating to genetically modified crops growing alongside non-genetically modified crops; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38447/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In August 2003 an interdepartmental group, which comprised of representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Teagasc and the EPA, was established to examine issues relating to coexistence and draw up recommendations for coexistence arrangements in Ireland.

I have recently received and examined the group's reports and recommendations. The report takes on board the full range of factors surrounding the GM issue: the principles laid down in the Commission guidelines on GM co-existence; Government policy on GMOs; scientific issues; new developments in GM technology; the Irish crop production system and farm infrastructure; and liability. While the group engaged extensively with identified stakeholders I have decided, in order to allow all concerned put forward their views on the proposed arrangements for coexistence, to place the report on my Department's website and invite further observations on the recommendations in the report. I will take all such observations into account before putting in place coexistence arrangements here in Ireland as is required under EU legislation.