Irish politicians demand EC regognition of GMO-free zones

international | environment | event notice Tuesday May 09, 2006 23:06 by Michael O'Callaghan - GM-free Ireland Network

Call for Ireland to be GMO-free zone for food security of EU member states

The GM-free Ireland Network will host a press conference at the European Commission Office in Dublin at 10 am Wednesday 10 May.

This will kick off a series of European Day debates in the Dáil (Irish Parliament), including a speech by EC Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Mariann Fischer-Boel.

Irish politicians at the press conference will call for the whole island of Ireland to be declared a GMO-free zone for the food security of other EU member states. They will also demand EC legislation that recognises the democratic right of member states and regions to prohibit GMO seeds and crops if they choose to do so.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:

Kathy Sinnott MEP (Independent)
Marian Harkin MEP (Independent)
Trevor Sargent TD (Green Party leader)
Mary Upton TD (Labour Party spokesperson on Agriculture and Food)
Michael Mulcahy TD (Fianna Fáil - Government Convener on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs and former Lord Mayor of Dublin)
Martin Ferris TD (Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Agriculture and Food)
Eddie Punch (General Secretary, Irish Cattle and Sheepfarmers Association)
Michael O’Callaghan of GM-free Ireland

Senator James Bannon (Fine Gael Spokesperson on Environment, Local Government and Heritage in the Upper House and General Secretary of the Local Authority Members Association) may also attend.

CONTACT:

Michael O'Callaghan
tel + 353 (0)404 43885
mobile + 353 (0)87 799 4761
email: mail@gmfreeireland.org