see also: 'Ireland's role as biotech stooge'
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=5962
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Conflict of interest at Irish Times
Why the Times won't publish articles condemning GM Michael O'Callaghan of GM-free Ireland - www.gmfreeireland.org Indymedia Ireland, 19 October 2006 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/79141.
David McConnell, a molecular geneticist, is Professor of Genetics at Trinity College Dublin. He is head of the Irish Times Trust, the owner of the Irish Times. He also happens to be Co-Chair of the biotech lobby group EAGLES‚ European Action on Global Life Sciences (www.efb-eagles.org), which is funded by the European Federation of Biotechnology.
Small wonder then, that the Times so rarely publishes anything about GM and never criticises the technology. Of course, a recent letter critical of GM written by myself was also not published.
Needless to say, I will keep sending my letter until they get sick of me.....!
Just another example of vested interests destroying free speech in our 'democracy'.
http://www.gmfreeireland.org/news/index.php
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Related Link: http://www.gmfreeireland.org/mediawatch/index.php
The Irish Times is owned by the Irish Times Trust. The Trust is headed by David McConnell, who also happens to be Co-Chair of the biotech lobby group EAGLES – European Action on Global Life Sciences (www.efb-eagles.org), which is funded by the European Federation of Biotechnology. Chaired by former World Bank Vice-president Dr. Serageldin, EAGLES perpetuates the biotech industry myth that GM technology will end world hunger and "solve the problems of illness, starvation and environmental degradation". EAGLES used its supposed concern for such humanitarian causes to seek EC funding from taxpayers in 2003. The request was turned down but EAGLES is applying for EC support once again.
David McConnell is also Professor of Genetics at the TCD Smurfit Institute of Genetics (which also receives major funding by the biotech industry). Known by the nickname God by TCD students who allege he has a dogmatic personality, Prof. McConnell is widely regarded as a hard-line GM fundamentalist who is prone to deny the existence of any scientific evidence of GM risks.
Although the Irish Times denies any editorial policy control by the Irih Times Trust, this conflict of interest may explain why Ireland's "newspaper of record" gives minimal coverage to the GM debate and why its rare articles on GM issues normally deny the existence or downplay the abundant scientific evidence of GM health and environmental risks.
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