Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Obviously, the situation is there to play for. We are clear about the development agenda. For example, at the last round, the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, accompanied the Minister for Agriculture and Food and the Minister of State with responsibility for trade, Deputy Michael Ahern, to those talks to make clear the broad-based approach we were taking. The words "balance" and "ambitious" are important from our perspective. For example, Europe has made significant concessions in agriculture but one could argue that they have not necessarily been reciprocated in terms of services or industry.

Earlier, we spoke about the closure of the sugar factory. Ireland is paying a price for the reforms that are under way. The European Union has made concessions and we would prefer a greater opening of trade and services to facilitate Irish companies that want to trade overseas. We have moved to a significant degree in the agricultural debate but given the current EU mandate there is not much more room for us regarding agricultural market access. There are difficult issues involving a number of different parties. Agriculture is one of the areas concerned and, as I said earlier, trade in industrial goods and services is the other aspect. It is Ireland's sincere position, and the EU's belief, that we do not expect the poorest to have to make concessions.

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