Anti-GM groups opt to join Dempsey debate

The dates for two debates on GM foods involving representatives of the biotech industry, academics and non-governmental organisations (who are opposed to the technology) have been announced by the Minister for the Environment.

Following the agreement of NGOs to rejoin the consultation process set up by the Department of the Environment on genetically modified organisms and the environment, a first exploratory debate will be held on Tuesday, May 25th, and a second "analysis debate" on Thursday, June 3rd.

Both stages will be managed by a four-person independent panel headed by Mr Turlough O'Donnell QC. All 19 NGOs which withdrew from the process have agreed to participate, despite their continuing reservations about the format.

The Minister, Mr Dempsey, said: "The whole process of initiating the consultation process was to stimulate informed debate on the potential environmental impact of deliberately releasing GMOs into the environment, including field trials of GM crops."

Answering criticism that the debates were too narrow, with a strict environmental focus, Mr Dempsey said his remit was environmental protection. "The broad range of issues related to the development and application of genetic engineering will be addressed by the recently established inter-departmental group at which my department is represented."

With almost 200 responses to his consultation paper issued last August, the Minister said he was delighted to provide those respondents with an opportunity to debate.

The other members of the panel are: Prof Dervilla Donnelly, emeritus professor of chemistry at UCD; Mr Sean Cromien, former secretary of the Department of Finance and a noted ornithologist; and Ms Evelyn Owens, chairwoman of the National Centre for Partnership and former chairwoman of the Labour Court.