Written answers

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Genetically Modified Organisms

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding GM Food production here and the trials being undertaken by Teagasc: if he will provide an update with reference to its introduction to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15164/13]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The issue of genetic modification is dealt with by three State agencies in Ireland. In summary:

-Issues relating to GM foods come under the remit of the Minister for Health and Children (DHC) and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI);

-GM feeds and the coexistence of authorised GM crops alongside non-GM crops rests with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM); while

-Approval to trial GM crops or authorise new GM crops for deliberate release into the environment rests with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DEHLG) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

There is no commercial production or cultivation of GMO’s in Ireland.

With regard to the Teagasc GM-potato trial, Teagasc applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on 27 February 2012 for approval to trial a genetically modified potato with enhanced ability to resist late blight. The trial is part of an EU Framework Programme 7 funded research project consisting of 22 partners in 15 EU Member States. The Teagasc application was approved by the Board of the EPA. The main objective of the Teagasc field trial is to assess the impact of cultivation of the blight-resistant potato on the Irish ecosystem.

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.

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