Campaigners call for GM-free pledge from Govt
The Government must get off the fence and declare Ireland totally against genetically modified produce, it was claimed today.
With 1,000 businesses, homes, farms, and shops around the country proclaiming themselves GM free, campaigners insisted the public had been kept in the dark on the controversial issue for long enough.
Michael O’Callaghan, GM-free Ireland Network co-ordinator, warned the Government had tried to cover-up what it stood for, but never voted against GM crops.
“If the Irish Government and its Northern Ireland counterpart go ahead with their current strategy to allow the so-called co-existence of GMO crops on this island, we will lose our right to choose safe GM-free farming and food, forever,” he said.
And he claimed ministers had at times promoted GM as a cure-all for world food shortages.
Mr O’Callaghan said the introduction of patented GMO crops would contaminate every farm in the country. But he said keeping Ireland GM free would create a distinct economic advantage.
John Heney, Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association spokesman, called on ministers to stop hiding behind the opinions of a small group of scientists.
“The public must be informed of all the issues involved and a national debate initiated on the use of GM in food,” he said.
“Simplistic and patronising statements are not good enough. This charade has gone on for far too long: our Government must respect its citizens’ rights and immediately get off the fence on the GM issue. They owe it to us all.”
GM-free Ireland Network, which represents 56 farming organisations nationwide, said hundreds of businesses had GMO-FREE ZONE signs on their businesses to mark Earth Day.
Kathy Sinnott, MEP, said Ireland should be declared 100% GM free and used as a control if tests for GM crops were conducted elsewhere in the European Union.
“GMO crops are an experiment. I have told the European Parliament that I do not support the GMO experiment, but if it is to go ahead in Europe I recommend Ireland as the perfect control,” she said.
“It is an island with predominantly westerly winds and therefore significantly protected from GMO contamination from neighbouring countries.
Most EU governments stalled over a complete ban on GMO crops, but 100 regional governments and 3,500 local authorities in 22 EU states outlawed GMO farming.
And across Ireland counties Clare, Fermanagh and Monaghan have already passed GM-free motions, while city councils and local authorities including Derry, Mourne, Clonakilty, Navan and Newry have banned GM farming.
But it is feared the introduction of GM crops will burden farmers with annual licensing fees, higher production costs, superweeds, bureaucracy, labelling, and traceability issues.
