Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 644 of 22 April 2009, the action his Department is taking to ensure a supply of alternative non-genetically modified grain to comply with Ireland's official GM free status; if he will review this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20363/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Maize, soya, oilseed rape and cotton are the only crops used as animal feed ingredients for which there are GM varieties. The World market has adequate supplies of both GM and non GM varieties of these crops for purchase by Irish feed operators. For economic reasons the vast bulk of the purchases made of these are of GM varieties. It is not necessary for my Department to intervene in this market.

On the question of GM free status, the Deputy should note that the commitment in the current Programme for Government, which seeks to negotiate the establishment of an all Ireland GM free zone, relates primarily to the cultivation of GM crops in Ireland. All indications are that GM crops will not be cultivated in Ireland for the foreseeable future.