John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the fact that this motion is being debated in the House. For the third time, we are discussing the WTO and that is as it should be. For the first time in a long time we are debating in this House real issues that affect the economy of the country and particular sectors of it.

While I accept the motion has given rise to the debate, I disagree with a considerable amount of what Deputy Creed had to say in his contribution. His analysis of the situation brings us to a doomsday situation, one that would cause farmers and business people to run away from their businesses, close up shop and walk out. I do not accept that is the situation in which we now find ourselves. There is a need for Deputy Creed to understand the facts in this regard. The fact is that we are, along with all other member states of the European Union, fighting our cause. On the last occasion this issue was debated, there was a significant degree of support for a unified approach on this matter. That unified approach involved us putting the cause of Ireland and supporting what has been done.

In the motion Deputy Creed has placed before the House, he has ignored all of the effort made to date. He has ignored the real facts of this debate and he has ignored where we actually stand and how we will deal with the issue. If he understood all of that he would join with us in ensuring——

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