Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the changes in the Government's policy on genetically modified foods and crops since 1997; the reason that the changes that took place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21571/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government, conscious of the range of concerns being expressed about genetic modification in the fields of pharmaceuticals, medical diagnostics, agriculture and food production and aware that no coherent policy on the issue had been formulated, established an Inter-Departmental Group on Modern Biotechnology in March 1999. This Group published its Report in October 2000 and in the Report it recommended that Ireland's general position on modern biotechnology should be positive but precautionary. This position informed the Government's approach to GM proposals up to June 2007, when a new Programme for Government was agreed.

I am currently engaged in discussions with my Cabinet colleagues on how best the commitment in the Programme for Government to seek to negotiate the establishment of an all Ireland GM free zone can be effected, while taking into account the views of all interested parties and the sectors most directly affected.