The Government's current consultation process on genetically modified organisms risks excluding important social and ethical considerations, according to research conducted by Dublin City University. Many sectors of Irish society want this addressed. A study by DCU school of communications published today highlights "widespread concern about ethical issues posed by the emergence of GMOs", particularly as they apply to foods.
Yet the Genes on the Agenda study, conducted by Ms Fiona Barbagallo and Mr Brian Trench, notes that the formal policy debate and public consultation process has been limited to issues of environmental regulation and public health. The view that the process is limited is reflected in a series of interviews with representatives of citizen groups, religious groups, politicians, professional organisations, farmers, food chain groups, researchers, industry and government bodies in the Republic and the North.
The absence of formal consideration by the Government of ethical considerations is noted.
Two bodies advising Government agencies - the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland - have a technical and scientific mandate, it adds, which acknowledges the FSAI's focus on public and consumer health.
"Many of those surveyed held the view that important dimensions of the developing controversy about GM crops and foods were effectively excluded from the [still fairly informal] process of public debate and public policy formation," the study says.
Government and State agencies with responsibility for formation and implementation of biotechnology policy have been reluctant so far to accommodate within the policy process a wider range of argument and information than that "flowing fairly directly from the technical and scientific developments at issue", it adds.
Opening up the process to representatives of public interests could mean consensus would be harder to achieve, yet restricting discussion and representation "brings with it the risk the argument will be fought by less predictable - even illegal - means".
The research was conducted over the past 18 months as public and political debate over GM foods and crops intensified.
It identifies the way different groupings gathered and communicated information on biotechnology. It finds that industry and citizens' groups were most active in disseminating information, but scientists were the most widely consulted.
The study, which was funded by the Royal Irish Academy's Social Science Research Council, makes a case for a form of technology assessment which includes social and ethical evaluation of applications of biotechnology.
While those surveyed raised many issues arising from biotechnology, testing of GM crops and introduction of GM foods raised most ethical concerns.
The Department of the Environment is planning to stage a national debate on GMOs and the environment next month.
