I move:
That this committee urges the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to vote in favour of a continued ban on genetically modified organisms at the forthcoming Environment Council meeting.
Genetically Modified Organisms: Motion.
Having regard to the Minister's comments, there may not be any need to press this motion.
I am disappointed I did not phrase the motion in a wider sense. The Minister slipped past me as regards his proposal to abstain in the vote on Monsanto 863. The purpose of the motion is to encourage the Government not to open the gate any further on genetically modified crops. As Deputy Gilmore has pointed out, the Minister is sitting on the fence on the new proposal. We could take the motion to mean that we want the existing ban to continue.
I deferred the pressing of a motion at the meeting last week but would like to proceed with this one. A consensus was emerging at the joint committee last week. We heard from all sides, such as the relevant authorities and those concerned about genetically modified organisms. I hope the committee will lend its support to the motion.
I second the motion.
Did the Minister clarify how he was supporting the motion?
I understood that he is supporting the content of the motion. The problem is with the other issues relating to genetically modified organisms.
I understood that he is in agreement on this issue but that he will be on the wider issue.
I believe the Minister would be reasonably satisfied with this motion.
I will take the advice of the Chair because I do not want to divide the committee.
I see no difficulty in all members supporting this motion in view of what the Minister said.
Question put and agreed to.