Vol. 490 No. 1
55 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the effect, if any, the introduction of the Directive on the Legal Protection of Biotechnological Inventions will have on Irish food industries for both producers and consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9704/98]
Primary responsibility for this proposed Directive rests with my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
I understand that member states and the EU Commission adopted a common position on the proposal at the Internal Market Council in November last year, and the proposal must now proceed to the European Parliament for a second and final reading before adoption.
The implications, if any, for the Irish food industry will be borne in mind in the transposition of the Directive into Irish law.
