Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 514: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will instruct Teagasc to cease their plans to trial genetically modified potatoes.. [16516/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Teagasc operates as a separate non-commercial semi state body under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with their own management structure and governing Authority. The Act establishing Teagasc confers on it principal functions in relation to the provision of education, advisory and research services to the agriculture sector. It is a matter for Teagasc to prioritise activities in the delivery of these services and to allocate its resources in accordance with these priorities. Ministerial responsibility is confined to matters of policy in accordance with the Act and I have no function with regard to the day-to-day operations of Teagasc.