Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 242: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to revert to Ireland's previous stance in the EU on GM crops and foods. [5046/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that responsibility for issues relating to the cultivation of GM crops in Ireland rests with my colleague Mr Phil Hogan, T.D. Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government while responsibility for GM foods rests with the Minister for Health and Children Dr James Reilly, T.D. I have responsibility for issues relating to GM animal feed.

All applications for authorisation by the EU to place feed products consisting of, or containing, genetically modified ingredients on the markets of Member States will be considered on a case by case basis. However, I see no reason to impede the availability of feed products that have been deemed to be safe by EFSA.

Approval of these products will provide options for our producers and consumers, but ultimately it is they who will decide whether these products are actually used. This seems to me a balanced and rational way to deal with the issue of genetically modified feed products.