Sargent says GMO-free pledge is a 'huge step'

A commitment to make Ireland a genetically modified organism (GMO)-free zone represents "a huge step forward which gives us a clear policy objective", Green Party acting leader Trevor Sargent said yesterday.

Mr Sargent said Ireland's status in terms of GMOs had been a "key issue" in the negotiations between his party and Fianna Fáil on the programme for government and was evidence of his party's influence on it.

The programme states that the Government will "seek to negotiate the establishment of an all-Ireland GMO-free zone".

Mr Sargent told a conference on food safety, hosted by the European Parliament Independence/Democracy Group and the GM-free Ireland Network, that the aspiration for a GM-free Ireland opens up a "whole new policy for government" and represents clarity in relation to the issue.

"As spokesman on agriculture in the Dáil before this one, there was a belief that co-existence [conventional crops growing beside GM crops] would keep everybody happy. I for one do not believe that co-existence will deliver GM-free status to parts of Ireland where GM crops are not growing," he said.

Mr Sargent said the use of GM animal feed in Ireland was damaging the country's reputation as a food island, especially given the number of major retailers across Europe, including Tesco, Carrefour and Monoprix, which have banned such foods.

Mr Sargent was challenged by Prof David McConnell, Professor of Genetics at Trinity College Dublin, who denied any allegation of bias in favour of GMOs and accused Mr Sargent of "a total misunderstanding of the scientific community".

Prof McConnell, who is chairman of the Irish TimesTrust, suggested that the Green Party should look at all the scientific advice relating to GM foods before making judgment.

"I'm really asking ultimately that the Green Party should not pin its colours to one view or one expectation of scientific evidence. Science proceeds by an entirely different method and that has proven itself to be extraordinarily successful.

"I'm speaking as a scientist. I find it really unfortunate that the people who are claiming to be interested in science simply don't understand it. That is really quite serious."