Fianna Fáil TD Michael Mulcahy has lent his voice to the growing criticism of the European Commission's decision to lift the ban on genetically modified foods.
This morning's authorisation for the import of a biotech maize, has been attacked by Sinn Féin, the Green Party, the Labour Party and now Fianna Fáil, all of which claim the move is pandering to multi-nationals.
In a statement this afternoon Mr Mulcahy said: "It is completely unacceptable that such a profound decision affecting consumers and the environment should be made by an un-elected body ie. the European Commission".
Sinn Féin spokesman Mr Martin Ferris attempted to have Dáil proceedings adjourned this morning to discuss the issue.
He attacked what he said was the Government's role in the change of Commission policy: "The Irish Government has been among a minority of states which have consistently voted in favour of allowing GM over the past six months.
"This is despite the fact that there has been no debate or vote of any kind in this country and that the Government's stance represents a complete U-turn from Fianna Fáil's stated policy prior to coming to power."
Irish EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Mr David Byrne was sharply criticised by Green Party MEP Ms Patricia McKenna, for his part in the decision.
"Mr Byrne has failed badly to protect either consumers or the environment. It appears he puts the interests of multinational companies first. It is a disgrace that consumer rights have been overridden by an unelected body like the Commission," said Ms McKenna.
Labour Party spokesperson on Agriculture and Food Safety, Dr Mary Upton, said consultation should have taken place before the decision was made. She also accused the EU of "dancing to the agenda of multinationals".
The European Commission agreed to allow imports of the maize, known as Bt-11 and marketed by Swiss agrochemicals giant Syngenta, to be sold as tinned sweetcorn on supermarket shelves across the Union.
The decision follows months of deadlock between the EU's member states and also flies in the face of European opinion, where consumers are overwhelmingly opposed to biotech food.
Supermarkets and food manufacturers have responded to this and tend to avoid stocking produce that contains GMOs.
The Green Party, who have been campaigning against the lifting of any such ban, met with Commission president Romano Prodi in Brussels yesterday to argue their case. The last EU approval of any GMO product was in October 1998 for a type of carnation. The last food product, a type of maize, was approved in April that year.
Defending the decision Commissioner Byrne said: "GM sweetcorn has been subjected to the most rigorous pre-marketing assessment in the world.
"It has been scientifically assessed as being as safe as any conventional maize," he said in a statement. "Food safety is therefore not an issue, it is a question of consumer choice."
Although the EU decision confounds the hopes of GMO-sceptic states such as Austria and Denmark, it should delight some of the EU's top trading partners such as the United States, which has challenged the bloc's ban at the World Trade Organisation.