EU ministers to vote on GM potato

EU AGRICULTURE ministers will vote today on a highly controversial GM potato that, according to the World Health Organisation, could make people resistant to some antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections.

The vote will be a test of Ireland’s GM-free status insisted on by the Green Party’s programme for government with Fianna Fáil.

The Environment Minister and Green Party leader John Gormley voted against allowing the GM potato a few months ago while Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan normally abstains in such votes.