Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have a draft paper which the Senator will not have seen yet.

We are still awaiting confirmation from the Whips of whether we will be allowed to have the contents of that paper considered and put as a motion on the floor of the Houses so that they can be approved before they go to Europe. We have described various issues, including tariffs, imports and genetically modified organisms, as red-line issues. All of the red-line issues we see in relation to beef concern hormone beef in particular. We have focused on a couple of things, such as the need for an equal playing pitch when it comes to standards. I think this has been the general position of the Government anyway, but we are trying to reiterate it. That is the point.

Things are occurring with regard to the issue of climate change. We covered all the points that are being made in a report we published a year ago. Some of the media coverage of this topic has been simplistic and, for whatever agenda, has not been in Ireland's best interests. We need to stay on message regarding what we are trying to achieve here. Our message needs to be based on facts. This has been summarised as a global effort, as opposed to a national or EU effort. A global effort is needed in the long run. Is everyone happy enough with that? We would have preferred to have been able to make our contribution on TTIP available. That would have been ideal, but unfortunately it was not possible. The members of this committee decided to wait until this committee and two other committees might get an opportunity to table a motion on the document in question for approval by the two Houses. It is still a draft.