Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. It is obvious that it was only following the march by 10,000 farmers in Dublin two weeks ago tomorrow that the Government woke up to the problem we face. This issue not only concerns the farming lobby, but our national interest is at stake, given that we are the fourth largest exporter of beef in the world.

I wish to put a number of questions to the Minister of State on the talks. Is he hopeful that the Foreign Ministers can reach an agreement within the EU? Now that the negotiations are at a crucial stage, what action does the Minister for Foreign Affairs intend to take in regard to Ireland's interests? That is important. As the Minister of State said, the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, had negotiations with Commissioner Mandelson, but it is obvious he is not for turning. He issued a very nice press release but there was nothing substantial in it. The Minister, Deputy Coughlan, also had meetings with her German counterpart. Are further meetings due to take place with Foreign Ministers and Agriculture Ministers?

If Commissioner Mandelson proceeds with an agreement that is not in the interests of the Irish Government, it is important that the Minister of State come clean about our position in that event. The Sinn Féin President, Gerry Adams, said during a meeting of the Forum on Europe that in the event of the treaty being passed by the Irish people that the Irish Government would not be able to use its veto at the WTO talks. Perhaps Gerry Adams does not understand the treaty, but the Minister of State needs to tell us in this House this afternoon that in the event of non-agreement, the Government can use its veto.

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