Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she intends to set up a fund to compensate farmers for the expected economic loss if genetically modified crops are cultivated here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38448/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In August 2003 an interdepartmental group was established to examine issues relating to the co-existence of GM crops alongside non-GM crops and draw up rules for co-existence arrangements in Ireland. Among the areas examined by the group was the issue of compensation for a non-GM farmer in the event of economic loss being suffered as a result of GM admixture. The group comprised of representatives of the Departments of Agriculture and Food and Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Teagasc and the EPA.

I have recently received and examined the group's reports and recommendations. The report, which takes on board the full range of factors surrounding the GM issue, namely 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, makes clear recommendations on cases where a non-GM farmer incurs a verifiable and quantifiable economic loss as a result of the GM maximum labelling threshold being exceeded.

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 co-existence, 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 co-existence arrangements in Ireland as is required under EU legislation.