Noel Davern
Question:129 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for the Environment the research, if any, carried out by his Department on the dangers of introducing genetically modified organisms into the agricultural sector. [5880/97]
Written Answers. - Genetically Modified Organisms.
Council Directives 90/219/EEC on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms and 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release and placing on the market of genetically modified organisms are transposed into national law under the Genetically Modified Organisms Regulations, 1994. The Environmental Protection Agency, as the competent authority for the purposes of these regulations, is responsible for the assessment and determination of individual notifications to deliberately release genetically modified organisms or to place on the market products containing or consisting of genetically modified organisms.
My Department has not carried out research on the introduction of genetically modified organisms in the agriculture sector; issues in relation to agricultural research are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry.