Vol. 483 No. 3
33 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government whether he supports a moratorium on the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment; and if so, the steps, if any, he has taken since becoming Minister to implement this moratorium. [19297/97]
274 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the procedures, if any, which are in place to monitor and control the production of genetically modified crops and plants; his views on whether these are adequate in view of the serious concern among consumers about these procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19418/97]
275 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the Government's policy, if any, on the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment; and whether the Government will impose a moratorium on these releases. [20047/97]
276 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the current policy of the Government on the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment; and whether the Government will impose a moratorium on these releases. [20183/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 274, 275 and 276 together.
With regard to the release of genetically modified organisms to the environment, I am committed to a precautionary approach and to the provision of full information to the public. In my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 314, 315 and 316 of 12 November 1997, I indicated that I have asked my Department to prepare a national policy position on the deliberate release of GMOs. The preparation of the policy position will include widespread consultation with the public and the biotechnology industry.
While a moratorium on all activity related to the particular areas of genetic engineering covered by Community Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release of GMOs would not be consistent with Community legislation, I will be keeping an open mind on future policy pending the completion of the national position next year. I will also be pursuing all possible options to strengthen environmental and public health protection in the expected amendment of this directive.
Existing procedures and controls with regard to the deliberate release of GMOs, derived from Directive 90/220/EEC, are transposed, as appropriate, into national law under the 1994 genetically modified organisms regulations. The directive and the regulations lay down stringent notification and consent requirements for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment and apply to releases both for scientific field trial purposes and for the placing on the EU market of products containing or consisting of GMOs.
For the purposes of the regulations, the Environmental Protection Agency is the national competent authority. Any person seeking to deliberately release a GMO for the purposes of a scientific field trial must have the written consent of the EPA and must comply with any conditions attached to that consent. Any person seeking to place a product containing or consisting of GMOs on the EU market must have the written consent of a competent authority of an EU member state and comply with any conditions attached to the consent.
The EPA has power under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, and the GMO regulations to prosecute offences to which substantial penalties under the Act apply. The agency is also empowered to make an application to the High Court for an order prohibiting or restricting any process or action involving a GMO where the court is satisfied that the continuance would constitute a contravention of the regulations or pose a real or substantial danger to human health or the environment.
(Dublin West): Does the Minister agree that genetic engineering of crops and vegetables which feed humanity poses a danger to eco systems and that we are gambling irresponsibly with nature for the sake of multinational profit? Does he agree that it creates monster weeds and plants which, when consumed, could be dangerous to human health? In a press release on 26 April the Minister and Deputy Joe Walsh, now Minister for Agriculture and Food, said it was premature to release GMOs into the environment. They said Fianna Fáil did not support the largest nutritional experiment in human history which used consumers as guinea pigs and that it supported a moratorium on the release of GMOs into the environment. Will the Minister allow field trials to continue and, if so, is that not a shameful and cynical betrayal of what he said in April about our environment? He has the power under section 111 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, to instruct that no further trials take place. Is he aware of newspaper reports that in Mississippi the genetically modified cotton crop of 46 out of 200 farmers on contract to Monsanto has failed?
The Deputy should confine himself to short supplementary questions. He appears to be imparting information rather than seeking it.
I am not aware of the last matter the Deputy mentioned. I refer him to my reply in which I indicated that I have asked my Department to prepare a national policy position on the deliberate release of GMOs. This was not done before. If one is going to adopt a policy position, it must be balanced and those who have competing arguments must be allowed to make their case before we put forward a policy position.
(Dublin West): What is the timescale?
It is currently covered by European legislation and we would have to change European Directives before we could prevent the release of GMOs.
I assure the Deputy that I share his concern. My approach is as it always has been, that we should adopt a precautionary position and try in every possible way to strengthen the directives in relation to the release of GMOs.
(Dublin West): What is the timescale for the study which the Minister is undertaking and the report? Will he take immediate steps at EU level to secure an exception in that regard so that he can then exercise his power, under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, to prevent further experiments with genetically modified plants and crops?
I do not have such power in relation to the EPA. I am constrained by the directive. Because of the wording of the directive, we do not have to license releases in this country. If another EU member state — this was the case recently, as Deputy Howlin would be aware — decides it will authorise the release of GMOs, there is little we can do about it because one of the unfortunate difficulties in relation to the directive, particularly in this area of releasing the GMOs, is that it is dealt with under competition law rather than under environmental and health law. That is something I will be taking up at EU level.
Will the Minister confirm that Genetic Concern has been trying to arrange a meeting with him for several weeks and he seems to be refusing to meet them?
They should go on hunger strike.
I cannot confirm that I am refusing to meet Genetic Concern. I am not refusing to meet them.
Would the Minister agree that the definition of a genetically modified organism would include a former militant dressed in episcopal purple?
(Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.)
