Dáil debates

Thursday, 21 February 2008

Priority Questions

World Trade Negotiations.

3:00 pm

Photo of Andrew DoyleAndrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 3: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food her specific concerns relating to the World Trade Organisation, WTO, talks; the action she will pursue to ensure that the Irish agricultural market is not hindered by the outcome of the trade negotiations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7295/08]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I remain committed to an ambitious outcome to the current round of WTO negotiations. As an open economy dependent on trade, Ireland has much to gain from a successful conclusion to the negotiations. However, I have insisted, and will continue to insist, that any final agreement must be balanced. It must be balanced across all of the negotiating pillars, namely, market access for industrial goods, services, trade rules, trade facilitation and agriculture. It must be balanced between what the European Union is being asked to concede in the negotiations and what it is gaining in return. In the agriculture negotiations, it must be balanced across the three main negotiating pillars — domestic supports, export competition and market access.

The European Union has undertaken Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, reform in preparation for the negotiations and it has made a generous offer to reduce trade-distorting subsidies and to provide substantial special and differential treatment for developing countries. It is now time for the other negotiating partners to make equivalent contributions if an ambitious and equitable final agreement is to be reached. In that regard, I am very concerned that the recent negotiating paper from the chairman of the WTO Committee on Agriculture lacks balance. I have difficulty with the proposed commitments and timing in the document. I am determined that European and Irish agriculture must not be sacrificed in the effort to strike a WTO deal.

Any WTO deal must not undermine the CAP reforms already undertaken in good faith by the European Union in preparation for the current WTO round. My overriding objective in the agriculture negotiations is to ensure that the terms of the agreement can be accommodated within the framework of the reformed CAP. This represents the limit of the European Commission's negotiating mandate in these negotiations and must be respected.

There is no doubt that the overall process is at a critical juncture and the Government is fully aware of this. As I stated, we have concerns about the direction of the talks and no stone is being left unturned to address them.

My Department's officials and I have consistently and continuously outlined the Irish position in the clearest possible terms at official and political level. We have had numerous bilateral meetings with the Commission. We have developed and maintained valuable contacts with like-minded member states on this issue. I recently travelled to France specifically in respect of the WTO talks for a bilateral meeting with the French Agriculture Minister, Mr. Michel Barnier. Prior to the meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers this week, I attended a meeting of the "group of 14" WTO member countries plus member states at which there was a full discussion of the WTO negotiations.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

This group has grown to 20 member states. The Secretary General and senior officials of my Department visited Poland some weeks ago, also in respect of the WTO talks, again with the intention of maintaining strong support for a deal that does not damage EU agriculture. I have continued to express my view forcefully at meetings of the Council of Agriculture Ministers, most recently at this week's meeting on 18 February. I emphasised the absolute necessity that the Commission remain within the terms of the negotiating mandate. I will continue to work closely with like-minded Ministers in other member states to seek support for my position.

Photo of Andrew DoyleAndrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The position we were to adopt on CAP reform seems to have been adopted by Mr. Peter Mandelson as an opening position rather than a final one. If the Irish argument is not convincing, why are Argentina and United States considering limiting Chinese cereal imports to protect their own domestic markets?

When the Doha round first opened, we were told we had plenty of fuel and food. Circumstances have changed and I cannot understand why Mr. Mandelson is being allowed a free hand to negotiate. I do not know where his mandate comes form. He is a trade negotiator for the European Union. Who shows him the limits?

I appreciate that the Minister is negotiating with the French, who have traditionally been our greatest ally in this regard. Under a different regime, France may have a different outlook on the matter but the reality is that if we do not address it, Europe will be at the end of the world food chain, just as it is at the end of the Siberian gas line. If we cut our expenditure on agriculture protection, which amounts to €40 billion, what will happen when food gets scarce? I do not know which testament of the Bible refers to seven fat kine and seven lean ones — I will have to check with my mother — but perhaps it was prophesy.

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I do not want to give a biblical answer but I share the concerns of all Members of the House. The House has had an opportunity to express these concerns at committees.

I have used all the political clout I have been given in speaking to representatives from other member states. What was known as the "group of 14" has now expanded and has become the "group of 20" and this demonstrates the difficulties the majority of member states have with the deal. At the meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, expressed grave concern about the deal, as did his counterparts from like-minded states. The Taoiseach has been in touch with the President of the European Commission, Mr. José Manuel Barroso, to express his concerns and he has also had discussions with a number of his colleagues. He will do so again when he travels again next week.

There will be grave consequences if the deal presently on the table is accepted. It is my intention, and that of representatives of other member states, to outline our serious concerns about the lack of balance in the proposals.

Photo of Andrew DoyleAndrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister exercise whatever powers she can in expressing these concerns? Irresponsible as it may be, we may have to discuss Commissioner Peter Mandelson's mandate in the reform treaty debate. Who is allowing him a free hand? He is operating according to his own agenda as far as I can see. Bearing in mind that President George Bush wants to leave a positive legacy, I do not know what the legacy of Commissioner Mandelson will be or who is giving him his imprimatur. He must be called to account because of the grave consequences of the proposed deal.

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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We will be dealing with everything we can and my colleague, Deputy McGuinness, the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and a number of my representatives are meeting Commissioner Mandelson this afternoon to outline our concerns. Deputy Andrew Doyle can rest assured that, in working with those in the industry, including farming organisations and political organisations, I will exert as much pressure as possible.

The Deputy is correct that I have grave concerns about the Commissioner for Trade's mandate. It is the Commissioner who negotiates on our behalf but, the Council must be listened to. It expressed grave concerns this week. I refer not only to the Agriculture Council but also to the GAERC.