John Gormley
Ceist:235 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government Ireland's position in relation to the biosafety protocol outlined at the Cartagena summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8783/99]
Written Answers. - Biosafety Protocol.
At its meeting on 11 March 1999, the European Council of Environment Ministers underlined the high priority it attaches to the development of a biosafety protocol on the transboundary movement of living modified organisms and I fully support that position. The Council and the Commission unanimously expressed their disappointment that no compromise acceptable to all parties was possible at the Cartagena meeting, as well as their willingness to continue consultations with other countries and groups involved with a view to concluding a protocol with the widest possible support.