Written answers

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Genetically Modified Organisms

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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486. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he has taken to register Ireland's opposition to genetically modified crops in the EU; and the other action he can take in view of recent developments. [29164/14]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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At the June 2014 EU Council of Environment Ministers, the Greek Presidency sought political agreement on a proposed amendment to Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release of GMOs. Th is amendment, if progressed, would allow Member States to restrict or prohibit the commercial cultivation of GMOs in their territory under defined criteria.

On behalf of Ireland, I voted in favour of this proposal at Council. Indeed, there was near unanimous support for the measure, with just two Member States abstaining on the day. Since the Commission originally proposed this amendment to the Deliberate Release Directive back in 2010, Ireland has been generally supportive of the concept of individual Member States possessing greater powers and autonomy in this area. Nevertheless, and despite the considerable support expressed at the recent Council, Member States have found this a difficult file to reach consensus on and most have had to compromise to reach this agreement after four years of discussions. The Italian Presidency will now seek an agreement with the European Parliament, and hopes to do so during its Presidency term.

None of the GM crops currently authorised for commercial cultivation within the European Union is considered to have characteristics relevant to Irish agriculture. In that sense, Ireland would not have an immediate need to consider implementing the provisions of the proposal.

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