IRELAND'S scientists are on the threshold of becoming involved in animal genetic engineering and animal patents and there must be a full and open debate on the ethical and other issues such work raises, according to an animal welfare group.
And while the Environmental Protection Agency has no knowledge of any genetically engineered animals in Ireland at present, Trinity College, Dublin is soon to establish a transgenic mice facility, the Irish Anti Vivisection Society said yesterday.
The society's spokeswoman, Ms Yvonne Smalley, told a press conference held in conjunction with the Compassion in World Farming Organisation that both organisations are opposed to this science and will mount a campaign to oppose it.
The public, she said, has been misled into believing that genetic engineering of animals will provide great benefits in medicine and food production.
"However, we are not told about the risks of interfering with the gene pools", she said.
Green MEP Ms Patricia McKenna said EU moves to allow genetic modification of animals could increase the suffering laboratory animals have to endure.
The lack of public knowledge and debate on biotechnology here was "lamentable," she said. UCC and DCU have biotechnology centres which are subsidised by public funds, so information about their activities should be more widely disseminated.
Compassion in World Farming specialist on genetic engineering Dr Tim O'Brien said recent publicity about genetically engineered sheep had failed to mention how many sheep had died before the so called "success was achieved. Scientists also ignored the fact that if cloned animals developed a disease, they would all be wiped out.
The organisations launch their awareness campaign in Dublin's Grafton Street today.