Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

There is no doubt that we are entering another crucial phase in these negotiations and determined efforts will be made during the coming weeks to reach an agreement. We must all remain vigilant to ensure that the final agreement is a balanced one that does not result in disproportionate burdens on EU agriculture. I and my Department will continue to consult with all the interested parties with a view to ensuring that their concerns are addressed.

I have impressed upon the Commission at every available opportunity that the current unbalanced approach in the negotiations is unacceptable to Ireland. I have consistently expressed my concerns during my many bilateral meetings with them and at the agriculture Council of Ministers, most recently on Monday last when I pressed the Commission to introduce a note of realism into the discussions and not to be bounced into a bad deal. My Government colleagues have also outlined Ireland's concerns in the many meetings they have had with their EU counterparts and at the general affairs Council of Ministers.

The Taoiseach has consistently outlined Ireland's position on the WTO negotiations in his many meetings with EU and world leaders, including in his discussions with the EU Commission. I have played a leading role in forming and developing an alliance among a group of like-minded EU member states who share concerns about the manner in which the WTO agriculture negotiations have been progressing. This group now numbers some 20 member states. While the members of this group have varying concerns in the negotiations, I believe that the solidarity of this type of group is a useful way of influencing the Commission in terms of ensuring it addresses the concerns of member states across a broad range of areas.

I am continuing to foster these alliances as I view them as a crucial way of influencing the negotiations as they move towards a conclusion. Only this week I met with a number of EU colleagues in the margins of the Council of Ministers to reiterate my concerns on the current position in the negotiations and to explain that Ireland will not accept an agreement which would sacrifice EU agriculture for the sake of a deal.

I assure the House that I, and my Government colleagues, will not accept an agreement which does not deliver significant benefits for the EU and Ireland. The Taoiseach highlighted Ireland's concerns to the German Chancellor during her visit to Dublin on Monday of this week. The House will be aware the President of the European Commission is visiting Ireland today and the WTO negotiations are high on the agenda for his meeting with the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach will reiterate in the strongest terms that Ireland will not accept a WTO agreement which sacrifices EU agriculture. Any deal must be comprehensive and balanced and must not focus exclusively on agriculture.

I repeat to the House my, and the Government's, strong commitment to achieving a successful conclusion to this round of WTO negotiations. However, other WTO negotiating partners must realise that the EU has made its contribution and it is now time for them to step up and to make appropriate moves to facilitate a balanced and ambitious outcome. I assure the House in no uncertain terms that I, and the Government, will not accept an agreement which would undermine the 2003 reform of the CAP. This represents the limit of EU Commission's negotiating position as approved by the EU Council of Ministers.

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