Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 548: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the possible impact on the organic farming industry of the five-year test programme of genetically engineered potatoes due to commence in March 2006 in Summerhill, County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10111/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The test programme referred to is the subject of an application to the Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with Part B of EU Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release of GMOs into the environment as transposed into Irish legislation by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 2003. The EPA is designated by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as the competent authority under these regulations.

While my Department is responsible for developing coexistence arrangements between authorised GM and non-GM crops, it has no role with regard to experimental trials of this nature.