asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if the production process for the proposed Nordisk/Gentofte insulin plant at Ringaskiddy, County Cork were submitted for his Department's approval, prior to this announcement that the plant would be located at Ringaskiddy; if he will outline the procedures there are for vetting genetic engineering projects such as this; if he will publish details of the proposed genetic engineering process at this plant and the result of an examination of it; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Genetic Engineering Projects.
55.
The production process in this case did not require my Department's approval, but did obtain clearance from the appropriate EOLAS committee prior to receiving IDA support.
The procedures for vetting genetic engineering projects in Ireland are that the Recombinant DNA Committee of EOLAS reviews the use of genetic engineering techniques to modify any organism and the further use of a genetically modified organism in any industrial process. The committee uses American National Institute of Health Guidelines in its evaluation. The recommendations of the Recombinant DNA Committee are used by the relevant planning authority. If there are any special considerations, such as containment or other safety procedures, these are built into the planning conditions. In the case of the organism to be used by Nordisk Gentofte, the Recombinant DNA Committee found it to be exempt from any special requirements.
There will not be any genetic engineering carried out at the Cork plant. The genetic engineering as such has already been done in laboratories outside Ireland. The Cork process will use a genetically modified organism — bakers' yeast — which has been slightly modified by genetic engineering techniques. The modified organisms will require no further genetic engineering and will be grown in a fermentation process similar to a brewery; instead of producing alcohol the organism will produce human insulin. The Recombinant DNA Committee have made a report to the Cork County Planning Authority, details of which are available for inspection as part of the normal planning process.