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Genetic Engineering Update Since the last VOICE newsletter the Minister for the Environment has agreed to a number of key changes in the format of the two day-long debates on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and the environment. As a result of the negotiations of the 19 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with the Department of the Environment, the make up of the panel has been considerably altered. Instead of having only two NGO representatives, there will now be four NGO reps. The rest of the panel will be made up of two industry speakers and two academics. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is no longer on the panel. The other key change is the fact that the days of debate will be chaired by Turlough O’Donnell, Lord Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland, who will be assisted by three others. The fact that there is now a chairing panel is to be welcomed, although we would have prefered to have a panel of laypeople to give their opinion on the debate. The first day of debate takes place in the last week of May. The NGO representatives will include Prof Joe Cummins from Canada, a genetisict who is opposed to the release of GMOs into the environment. The Minister has said that one of his main reasons for wanting to conclude the GMO consultation process before the middle of June is because he will be meeting his European counterparts to review the EU Directive on the release of GMOs into the environment at the end of the month.