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DOCUMENTS:
FIANNA FÁIL LIES
In a joint statement made on 26 April 1997, Fianna Fáil spokesman for Agriculture, Joe Walsh T.D., and spokesman for the Environment Noel Dempsey set out their clear position against the development and sale of GM food, crops and livestock (see exhibit A below). "If a Government is not able to protect its citizens - from violence, from poverty, from environmental disaster - it begins to lose its own authority, it begins to lose its sovereignty, and citizens will begin to turn away from it and look for creative ideas elsewhere. The concept of governance... now has to do with transparency; it has to do with the right to participate in those decisions that affect our lives."
Politicians who lie to their citizens on national food security should be sent to prison.
A. Fianna Fáil Position on Genetic Engineering of Food • 26 April 1997
"We are deeply concerned about the development and sale of genetically modified organisms whether they are used in agriculture, food, or food processing. It is our position that it is premature to release genetically modified organisms into the environment or to market foods which contain any genetically modified ingredients or where genetically modified organisms have been used in the production of the food."
But in August 1998, after the Irish citizens re-elected Fianna Fáil to power and these two spokesmen became Ministers, the Government issued a Position Paper which stated precisely the opposite policy, claiming that the area of Irish economic interest where biotechnology / genetic modification has the greatest potential is agriculture (see exhibit B below).
To add insult to injury, Fianna Fáil had the audacity to call this complete denial of their election promise "stability and predictability in policy"! Our own government has thus adopted the same Orwellian double-speak of GM companies which call biotechnology "life sciences" and toxic chemicals designed to kill plants "plant protection products".
The United Nations Commission on State Sovereignty concluded that the concept of state sovereignty is linked to the duty to protect. As International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development chairman Mark Halle observed in his Global Vision interview (www.global-vision-consulting.com/wssd/halle.php),
However, in September 2003 Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh did say that allowing GM crops in might damage Ireland's green farming image and he would favour a very cautious approach based on full scientific evidence. "I believe the least interference you can have with nature the better, and that remains my position," said the Minister. Mr Walsh added that Ireland's most valuable farming asset is our Food Island system of natural production which should be maintained, but the approval of GM crops is up to the EPA.
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent immediately criticised the Minister for not defending Ireland more vigorously from the onslaught of GM crops, which he said would soon be a fait accomplit, taking power away from farmers into the hands of big business.
But despite thousands of emails sent to Irish politicians by citizens who signed the GM-free Ireland petition, the Government of Ireland voted in favour of legalising the first GM food and animal feed (Syngenta's controversial Bt11 maize) for release in the EU at an EU regulatory meeting on 8 December 2003 (see press release). This would have ended the EU's embargo on GM food since 1998, but the vote was rejected by a qualified majority of EU states.
At a picket of the Dáil on 10 December 2003, GM-free Ireland co-ordinator Michael O'Callaghan called for Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh and now Education and Science Minister Noel Dempsey to resign, saying the Government must stop lying and put the well-being of its citizens and the environment before the business interests of the US government and the biotech industry (see press release).
However, the issue will come up for decision again in Brussels in January 2004, and unless citizens take responsibility now, the government will no-doubt continue to push for legalisation.
"Current scientific knowledge is inadequate to protect the consumer and the environment from the unpredictable and potentially disastrous effects which may appear immediately or at any time in the future."
"The principle of "substantial equivalence" governing the testing and labelling of genetically modified foods requires that only known potential hazards are tested. Therefore unexpected toxins will be identified only when a unique health crisis occurs. This will be too late for the victims."
"Fianna Fáil will not support what amounts to the largest nutritional experiment in human history with the consumer as guinea pig."
"Where are the long-term studies on the effects on human health and the environment of genetically modified foods?"
"The effects of genetically modified crops and food are well documented. They include
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Unexpeced toxins and allergens in food.
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Increased use of chemicals on crops.
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Contamination of water and food.
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The creation of "super weeds" - herbicide resistant weeds.
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Damage to the ecology of the soil.
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Loss of biodiversity and consequent damage to the food chain."
"What are the benefits to human health? The claims of the bio-tech industry are not supported by independent research or by the general scientific community. Fianna Fáil is not opposed to scientific research. We appreciate theat there may be valuable medical applications from genetic engineering."
"We believe however hat it is wise to be conservative and put safety first. The rush to market with genetically modified foods is unscientific, unseemly and premature. Prevention is wise because cure is impossible. Genetically modified organisms once released can never be recalled."
"Fianna Fáil supports:
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A moratorium on the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment and on the marketing of any foods which contain any genetically modified ingredient, or which was produced using any genetically modified organism.
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In the meantime full disclosure labelling which allows consumers to choose what they eat and help doctors diagnose the cause of any health problems that may arise."
B. Government Position Paper on Genetic Engineering • August 1998:
"Stability and predictability in policy are also important in terms of underpinning the competitiveness of the biotechnology sector... The area of Irish economic interest where biotechnology, particularly modern biotechnology / genetic modification, has greatest potential is in agriculture..."
