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