8 February 2011
The Green Party has said it is alarmed by Fianna Fáil’s u-turn on the issue of GM food today, following confirmation by Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith, that Ireland is to vote in support of EU Commission proposals to allow genetically modified maize and cotton onto the market. In Government, the Green Party ensured that Ireland abstained on this vote.
Former Minister for Food, Trevor Sargent said: “This is a clear a U-turn by Fianna Fáil following the Green’s departure from Government. It shows the Greens were always on the side of the consumer and producers and had been making a real difference in terms of protecting Ireland’s reputation for high quality food. Here is another example of where the influence of big business on Fianna Fáil comes before what is in the public interest.
“This is a backward step for Irish agriculture, and will serve to undermine our reputation with European consumers. We need to ensure we produce what consumers in Europe want, and at present the majority of EU consumers do not want GM food. According to successive Eurobarometer surveys over 60% of European consumers want their food GM-free. The GM issue is about consumer choice and Fianna Fáil’s U-turn damages the quality image of Irish food produce. It undermines the very strategy set out in Food Harvest 2020, which puts great importance on the marketing of Irish food as being “high-quality” and certifying its sustainability.
“Contrary to assertions made by Minister Smith that GM-free animal feed is difficult to source, it is freely available at a small premium. As Irish cattle eat grass most of the year this small premium would represent a tiny price differential for the customer (e.g. 2c on a Sunday roast). Persuing a GM-free produce strategy in Ireland would best meet the requirements of European consumers. The highest quality lines in European supermarkets insist on the use of GM-free feed, e.g Carrefour and Co-op Italia.”
Deputy Sargent added that all the indications are that Labour and Fine Gael would make the same decisions as Fianna Fáil on this issue and only the Green Party was willing to stand up to the powerful interests involved. “We must have Greens in Government to ensure that Irish food can have access to the highest quality food international markets,” concluded Deputy Sargent.
