Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Teagasc developed any genetically modified organisms such as potato, barley or wheat seeds, or other important vegetable or fruit species here; if the State through Teagasc retains any patents or intellectual property in any such genetically modified food; if he will explain the position with respect to GMO's and Ireland's food security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40484/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Teagasc have not developed any genetically modified organisms in Ireland, but were recently awarded a licence by the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out field research on a GM potato designed to resist potato blight disease. The field study is part of a publicly funded EU research project being carried out by a consortium of 22 partners representing 15 EU Member States. The GM potato variety which Teagasc are researching was generated by scientists in Wageningen University, The Netherlands, and has been made available to Teagasc via a standard material transfer agreement.

Responsibility for issues relating to the cultivation of GM crops in Ireland rests with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, while responsibility for GM foods rests with the Minister for Health and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. My Department is responsible for issues relating to GM animal feed and the coexistence of authorised GM crops alongside non-GM crops.

Given that GM crops are not cultivated commercially in Ireland and are unlikely to be for the foreseeable future, the issue of cultivation and co-existence does not arise at present. 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 and supports applications which have been deemed to be safe by the European Food Safety Authority.

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm who owns the intellectual property or patent of the genetically modified potatoes which Teagasc is field trialling; if he will clarify if Teagasc had any role in the development of this potato; if so, if it retains any share in the patent or intellectual property relating to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40485/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Teagasc were recently awarded a licence by the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out field research on a GM potato designed to resist potato blight disease. The field study is part of a publicly funded EU research project being carried out by a consortium of 22 partners representing 15 EU Member States.

The GM potato variety which Teagasc are researching was generated by scientists in Wageningen University, The Netherlands, and has been made available to Teagasc via a standard material transfer agreement. The field study is to assess the environmental impact of cultivation of the blight resistant potato on the Irish eco-system compared to that of conventional potatoes. Teagasc are not testing the commercial viability of GM potatoes and the biotech industry has no association with this public-funded research project.