While canvassing in Donabate today I was disappointed to see a statement from the Minister for Agriculture indicating he was going back on the Government Programme for Government stance on GM. Over 60% of our vital customers in the EU do not want GM fed food. Yet the FF Minister Smith sees segregation of GM and non-GM as too difficult. Too difficult for who exactly? Too difficult for the GM companies pushing their products on Irish farmers from the USA mainly. It is these companies which set the price differential between GM and GM-free produce, like Monsanto and Cargill. GM-free produce is widely available frim Brazil. Because it is certified GM-free, the certification process adds a tiny cost, eg 5c for a kilo of pork. A kilo of pork would keep a family going for a while! Because beef and lamb is largely grass fed the price differential would be neglible.
However FF is more interested in playing the role of puppet to GM grain importers than in sending a message to EU customers that Irish food is clean, green and genetically unmodified. The statement I issued as Green Party Agriculture Spokesperson . will, I hope, be picked up. Fine Gael and Labour are no different to FF on this issue, it seems,from my experience as Minister of Food.
Meanwhile the people I met in Donabate were as always courteous and often friendly. FG proposals to sell public utilities and for massive reduncdancies are widely opposed. Interestingly opposition to the expansion of a local childcare being spear headed by Labour and the Socialist seems like a very irresponsible. and sad for those childcare workers affected and the parents of children who need the facility. Atleast the Green Party has a record of creating employment. I am shocked to see others undermining important facilities and precious jobs.
