Vol. 510 No. 3
30 D'fhiafraigh Mr. Gormley den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Forbartha Tuaithe an aontaíonn sé go mbeidh an clú atá ar ghlaise agus sláintiúlacht bhia na hÉireann i mbaol má cheadaítear do Theagasc trialacha páirce a reachtáil ar orgánaigh ghéinmhodhnaithe, go mór mór nuair a fheictear Aire Stáit na Roinne sna meáin chumarsáide ag seoladh táirge de chuid an chomhlachta chonspóidigh Monsanto. [20368/99]
Field trials on genetically modified sugar beet being carried out on Teagasc land are undertaken under licence issued by the environmental protection agency. The licence requires that the sugar beet is subsequently destroyed and there is, therefore, no danger that the beet can enter into the food chain.
My Department's general approach is to favour objective scientific evaluations of all new techniques including GMO products so as to establish their benefits or otherwise to the agrifood sector and assess if there are any implications for animal health, human health or the environment. We have deservedly a high reputation for our food products and I do not see how scientific evaluation work would damage it.
