Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 373: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when, in view of the fact that the EU has reversed its decision regarding genetically modified maize in Austria and Hungary, Ireland will implement a similar and more extensive ban on GM food cultivation. [10105/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The European Commission has, on a number of occasions, sought to reverse both the Austrian and Hungarian national bans on certain genetically modified maize. To date it has not been successful, although one of the Austrian bans was partially overturned in 2008 insofar as it related to the import and processing of the maize into food and feed.

The Commission's most recent proposals were considered at the Environment Council on 2 March 2009. Three proposals were considered in all, one relating to the Hungarian ban on GM maize MON810 and two relating to the Austrian bans on GM maize MON810 and T25. The Council adopted, by qualified majority, three decisions rejecting the Commission proposals.

I strongly supported both the Austrian and Hungarian national positions on each of the proposals at Council.

I am committed to the establishment of an all-Ireland GM free zone as set out in the Programme for Government. No GM food products are cultivated in Ireland.