IRISH RESPONSE -- DEMARCHES ON BIOTECH ISSUES

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000862

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/ERA - SHAWN GRAY
EEB/TPP/ABT/BTT - JACK BOBO
USTR - MELISSA CLARKSON
USDA/FAS - ELIZABETH JONES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD EUN TBIO EI
SUBJECT: IRISH RESPONSE -- DEMARCHES ON BIOTECH ISSUES

REF: A. STATE 158225


B. STATE 153542

C. DUBLIN 570


1. (U) Summary: The Irish government recognizes the
scientific basis of USG biotech positions and recently agreed
that the importation of genetically modified (GM) animal feed
is acceptable under its GM-Free Ireland policy. The debate
over whether the government will approve the growing of GM
products continues. End summary.


2. (U) On November 21, Econoff delivered points contained in
reftel demarches to Kevin Cassidy at the Irish Department of
Agriculture and Food. Cassidy said the Irish government
"fully takes note" of the U.S. position, and he promised to
disseminate the points to other interested parties in the
government. Cassidy noted that the Sarkozy and Dimas
positions (Ref B) have thrown a "wrench into the EU debate"
and that the Irish government is watching these developments
closely.


3. (SBU) Cassidy continued that the whole issue of biotech
in Ireland must be viewed through a political lens. The
government is still engaging in an internal debate on the
exact meaning of its "GM-Free Ireland" policy, as called for
in the current program for government. (Note: At the
insistence of current Minister for Food, former Green Party
leader Trevor Sargent, this phrase was included in the
platform of the Fianna Fail/Green coalition that won the May
2007 elections (Ref C). End Note.) Cassidy said that the
Department of the Environment has the lead on this issue and
is in consultations with the Departments of Health and
Children, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Agriculture.
The Prime Minister's office is also involved.


4. (SBU) Cassidy said that the internal negotiations are
making progress. He noted that the government has come down
in favor of accepting the importation of GM animal feed. To
emphasize the progress, Cassidy pointed out Minister
Sargent's announcement on September 28 that the government's
GM-Free Ireland policy did not prohibit the importation of GM
animal feed, but rather the growing of GM crops. (Comment:
Had Ireland banned the importation of GM animal feed, Irish
cattle and dairy farmers would have incurred significantly
higher costs over the winter, which would have been passed on
to consumers. End comment.) Cassidy indicated that the
government's policy toward the cultivation of GM crops is not
yet finalized, saying that it is still the subject of
intra-governmental negotiations.
FOLEY