Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of submissions received by the 1 February 2006 deadline for receipt of submissions on the report of the working group on the coexistence of GM crops with conventional and organic farming; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5939/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department received a total of 55 communications by 1 February 2006 in response to my request of 7 December 2005 for observations on the coexistence measures set out in the working group report referred to by the Deputy. These measures are aimed at creating conditions during the cultivation, harvest, transport and storage of crops that make it possible for conventional and organic growers to keep the adventitious presence of genetically modified organisms, GMOs, in their crops below the labelling thresholds established in Community law while ensuring that farmers who want to grow authorised genetically modified, GM, crops can do so. Following the receipt of a number of requests, I am extending the closing date for receipt of observations on the report to 31 March 2006.

While the vast majority of the submissions received to date went well beyond the boundary of the request and, inter alia, called on me to establish a GM-free island or reject GM technology as being untried and unsafe, I will take into consideration all observations made in respect of the recommendations relating to co-existence when I am finalising measures for the cultivation of GM crops alongside non-GM crops.