A Government review of its position on Genetically Modified (GM) products has been concluded but the implementation of the policy will be a political issue, a Dáil committee was told yesterday.
Eamon Corcoran, principal officer, food unit, of the Department of Health and Children told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that the policy had changed in this area since the formation of the new Government.
Ireland, he said, had a previous stance of being "positive but precautionary" in relation to GM products at European level but that had changed. He continued that Ireland had abstained on two occasions in votes relating to the sanction of products and advised the EU the Irish position on GM products was currently under review and that consequently, we were abstaining. During questions from members of the committee, Mr Corcoran said he understood the review had been completed but its implementation was " now a political issue".
Senator Paul Bradford (FG) said the policy of having a GM-free Ireland as outlined last September by the Minister for Food, Trevor Sargent, was not a sustainable one if the European Commission could make final decisions in the absence of agreement by the Council of Ministers or the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.
Told by Johnny Brady, chairman of the committee, that the Minister was coming to the committee on February 20th to discuss the issue of farmers' markets, Mr Bradford, said he would like to question the Minister on this issue. Deputy Martin Manseragh (FF) said it appeared Ireland could be a GM free zone if it did not grow GM crops.