Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

On first day in the job I was in Northern Ireland and I was here on my second day. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, met with Michel Barnier, the French Agriculture Minister. He came to see me in my office and we discussed the issue for 15 minutes although not in great detail as he had to catch a plane. I knew Mr. Barnier when he was in the Commission and I was Minister for Foreign Affairs. I know the French Government is working with us on this matter. It is very important that we do not end up in a situation where we apply a position to the treaty on the basis of a concern about the WTO which may not happen at all. This makes no sense, although this is not to say we are not concerned about the issues. However, we should not decide to shoot ourselves in the foot twice.

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