Keeping Ireland GM Free

national | environment | press release Monday July 28, 2003 14:21 by Justin Moran - Sinn Féin maigh_nuad at yahoo dot com

On Tuesday July 29th @ 11:00 am Sinn Féin will hold a press conference in Buswells Hotel

On Tuesday July 29th @ 11:00 am Sinn Féin will hold a press conference in Buswells Hotel, Dublin to put pressure on the Irish government to immediately carry out a Public consultation on whether Genetically Modified food and crops should be allowed on this island.

Party spokes persons on agriculture and rural development Martin Ferris TD and Gerry McHugh MLA, together with Mary Lou McDonald Dublin EU candidate will give detailed reasons as to why Ireland must remain GM free.

Speaking ahead of the Press Conference Martin Ferris and Gerry McHugh said:

"As a party Sinn Féin are totally opposed to the introduction of GM food and crops and are disgusted at the response of the Irish government in refusing to carry out a public consultation on this vital and emotive issue.

"This is an issue that will impact on Ireland's clean green farming image and has implications for farmers across the island of Ireland.

"We see no environmental, economic, nutritional or consumer benefits from GM or improvements for third world countries in Genetic Modification. The only beneficiaries from GM will be the profits of the companies who want to own the patent on a sizeable proportion of the world's food." ENDS