Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his and this Government's position in relation to GM, GM food, GM plant trials and bio-diversity in general. [12903/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Responsibility for issues relating to the cultivation of genetically modified crops, including GM trials, in Ireland rests with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, while responsibility for GM foods rests with the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly. I have responsibility for issues relating to GM animal feed and, should it arise, the commercial cultivation of authorised GM crops alongside conventional crops.

Since 2007 all GM feed proposals have been considered in joint application with 'food' under EU Regulation 1829/2004 on genetically modified food and feed. My Department considers the proposals in relation to feed while the Department of Health considers the proposal in relation to food. However a single national position is taken in respect of each proposal.

The use of authorised GM ingredients plays an important role in the supply of protein feed materials at affordable prices for the Irish livestock industry. In relation to the authorisation and use of products consisting of or containing authorised GM ingredients in animal feed, my Department adopts, on the basis of scientific evaluation, a positive but precautionary approach to EU applications for the authorisation of GM ingredients in food and feed and supports applications which have been deemed to be safe by European Food Safety Authority.

Responsibility for issues in relation to biodiversity rests with my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan. Ireland's strategic actions on biodiversity up to 2016 are set out in the second National Biodiversity Plan, "Actions for Biodiversity 2011 to 2016"" , which was published last November by Minister Deenihan. The Plan was developed in line with the EU and International Biodiversity strategies and policies.