Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is of major importance to a country that exports 80% of its production to ensure we are seen internationally to be reliable, competent and dependable. These are major factors in terms of international investment. We are not looking for easy options or concessions as we are well able to compete in the open market in our own right. The reliability of the services in a country is a major issue for international investors. When investors are considering where they will invest in the world, the criteria are the consistency, reliability and trustworthiness of places, and if those boxes are not ticked, they do not want to go there.

The issue of climate change was raised. As we know, some countries do not recognise the need to take measures on climate change and that can place at a disadvantage countries that are introducing such measures. We need to ensure the playing pitch is level and that recognition is given for meeting the requirements on climate change.

During a previous round of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade negotiations, we had submissions from NGOs and others on EU trade with Africa in the context of the Common Agricultural Policy, and the thrust of their argument was the need to facilitate the poor farmers in Africa. It had nothing to do with that but with multinational corporations that were anxious to seize a larger slice of the markets and did so to the disadvantage of the poor farmers in Africa. I would always be anxious to facilitate people across the globe who might be in a difficult position, to encourage them and to offer them options.

I agree that common standards applicable to international trade are of major importance. I give as an example the three pin plug versus the two pin plug. When I was young, I was told there was nothing to beat the three pin plug as it was the ultimate in safety. It may well be but it is not recognised all over the world. Different standards apply in the US and in Australia and their economies do not collapse as a result of having different standards. We need to recognise that universal recognition of our standards is for the betterment of our respective economies on both sides of the Atlantic and globally.