Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

Fine Gael has proposed this Private Members' motion on foot of the mounting concern about the current direction of the World Trade Organisation talks and the potentially disastrous effect the proposed agreement will have on Irish agriculture and agribusiness and, ultimately, Irish consumers. The deal that is currently on the WTO table will damage our beef and dairy industries. It is likely to have a knock-on effect on other areas of agriculture and agribusiness. It will cost the economy an estimated €4 billion per year, put 50,000 farmers out of business and result in an estimated 50,000 additional job losses in manufacturing and services. Such figures have not been gleaned from data compiled by the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, or the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. They have emerged from detailed analysis of the effects of the proposed WTO deal that has been conducted by other interested parties in this sector.

The Minister has repeatedly suggested that she intends to negotiate a "balanced" agreement for Ireland. She claims she is determined to ensure that Irish and EU agriculture is not sacrificed for the sake of an unbalanced deal. Given that the Department has failed to produce an independent analysis of the economic impact of the current WTO proposals on the Irish economy, it is difficult for me and the 6,000 farmers who are protesting across the street today to understand what a "balanced" deal involves. To what extent will the Government make concessions in agreeing a world trade deal?

I am concerned about the impact of the proposed deal on producers and on non-trade issues such as animal welfare and food security. Such important areas of consideration have been largely ignored in the context of the current negotiations. When Deputy Creed recently asked the Minister whether she will invoke this country's veto if Irish farmers want her to do so, she refused to answer him one way or other. The Minister of State, Deputy Wallace, has just told the House that "a huge range of analysis has been carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food". I beg to differ with her in that regard. On 8 April last, the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, admitted that the Department had not finalised its analysis of the impact of the WTO proposals. She said that a firm analysis of the proposals made by the chairman of the WTO agriculture committee, Crawford Falconer, had not yet been completed.

I would like to comment further on non-trade issues which are not being prioritised, such as animal welfare and food security. Irish producers are adhering to strict regulations in rearing and slaughtering their animals, but the same cannot be said of many countries which export to the European Union. We are aware of the problems associated with Brazilian beef, etc. By adhering to the various restrictions, Irish farmers have rightly invested heavily in ensuring they produce high quality products. They are not operating on a level playing field with other producers, however, and are paying the price as a result. Production costs for EU farmers are significantly higher than those of farmers from non-EU countries. It is unlikely that EU producers will be able to compete with low costs if the WTO proposals for cuts in tariffs for various sectors are accepted.

Producers have highlighted issues such as the sale of chicken cages which are not considered appropriate for use on EU farms to farmers in countries like Thailand and Brazil. The use of such cages is seen as appropriate in countries which import chicken into the EU. The issue of food security, which is not at the forefront of the agreement, does not appear to be a priority for Commissioner Mandelson. In light of the increase in the world's population, global climate changes and the growth of biofuel crops as an alternative land use, the WTO agreement is vital in securing food supplies into the future.

The Council of Agriculture Ministers met on 14 April. After the meeting, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Coughlan, suggested that while Ireland is committed to the WTO, the European Union "should not be bounced into concluding a deal which is unbalanced and does not respect the important role of agriculture within the EU or the changed circumstances which prevail in relation to global food shortages and food security". I wish the Minister of State would not come in here and tell us what analysis the Minister has done when she herself stated on April 8 that she had none.

Pieces are being picked from other bodies such as the IFA who, because of concerns about the WTO, have gone to the trouble of conducting a detailed analysis of the effects of the WTO on Irish agriculture.

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