Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will report on his recent meeting with the French Agriculture Minister, Michel Barnier, on the ongoing World Trade Organisation negotiations; the Government's intention with regard to the use of the veto; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19896/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I had a constructive meeting on Friday, 9 May with my French counterpart, Michel Barnier. We exchanged views on the ongoing WTO negotiations and it was clear that we had similar concerns about the lack of balance in the current situation and about the push for an early agreement, even though many important issues had yet to be resolved. Both of us had serious misgivings about the negative impact of the current proposals on EU agriculture. We agreed that it was important to communicate those concerns forcefully to the Commission and to build alliances with like-minded member states in support of our position.

The meeting is one of a series of contacts concerning the WTO arranged with the Commission and my counterparts in other member states. At yesterday's Agriculture Council of Ministers meeting I met the Agriculture Commissioner, Mrs. Fischer Boel, and I reiterated and highlighted Ireland's concerns to the Commission and to other member states, insisting that any WTO agreement must not place a disproportionate burden on EU and Irish agriculture.

I will continue also to ensure that Ireland plays a leading role in the group of 14-plus like-minded member states that have come together to express concerns on the direction of the WTO agriculture negotiations. I am travelling to Slovenia next week where I will have bilateral discussions on the WTO with my colleagues from other member states.

As to the veto, I remind Deputy Creed that the WTO negotiations are still in progress and there is no clarity as yet regarding either the eventual outcome or the timing of any deal. In those circumstances, it is premature to speak in terms of a veto at this point. Many aspects of the negotiations are still outstanding and we should not rush our fences. The important point is to continue to fight strongly for a balanced deal that does not sacrifice agriculture.

The House can rest assured that everything possible is being done, and at every political level, to ensure Ireland's interests are best protected in these negotiations. I intend to spare no effort and to continue to work with other member states in the days and weeks ahead on the matter.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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At the outset I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Smith, on his appointment. I look forward to working with him in the best interests of Irish agriculture and the agri-business sector. I am sure I speak for my colleagues in that respect. I also congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, on his appointment in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

I do not mean these comments to be personal but I read the press statement issued subsequent to the Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting yesterday and regret the continuing clap-trap regarding the need for a balanced deal. Farmers do not know what the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food means when it refers to a balanced deal. What they want to hear, almost exclusively now in the context of the Lisbon treaty, is that if what is on the table now regarding tariff cuts of up to 70% in beef and high tariff cuts across other sectors also is the final deal presented by Commissioner Mandelson, first, that the veto is available as a political option for the Department to use and, second, that if what is on the table now is what will be put before the Minister and the Government to approve they will use the veto option.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Creed for his good wishes. I look forward to working with him and his colleagues in the Fine Gael Party, Deputy Sherlock and all Members in the best interests of Irish agriculture.

The Falconer paper was published last night but I had to attend a Government meeting and did not have an opportunity to read it yet but my officials will work on that immediately. We will be involved in the consultative group as well in an early meeting regarding the most recent paper that has just been published. We have major concerns about where we are in these negotiations. Some of the proposals that originated from Geneva would have serious consequences for European Union agriculture. For Ireland, the consequences of a bad deal would be particularly severe for the beef industry but other sectors such as dairy, sheepmeat and pigmeat will feel the impact also. That is the reason we are so determined to fight this measure.

As a trading country we are committed to the growth of international trade. That is for the benefit of both the urban and the rural economies but we do not want a deal that will sacrifice agriculture.

Deputy Creed, in the second part of his question and also in his supplementary, asked about the status of the veto. Deputy Creed may not have had the opportunity to hear the Taoiseach confirm recently in the House, in answering a question from the Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Enda Kenny, that we have the option on a veto but we are not at that stage. We share the concerns of Members and the agricultural community in general. The reality is the Commission is working to a mandate from the European Council and as Deputy Creed is aware, the Commissioner must work to that mandate on the agriculture side in line with the Council mandate. That is the position.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The unfortunate reality is that the Minister operates to a mandate from the Council of Agriculture Ministers. The political failing of that Council of Ministers, the Minister and, more pointedly, his predecessor, was that they did not ensure the Commissioner did not stray beyond that brief, which he has done. I am not aware if the Department or the Council of Ministers have a plan B which considers side deals or compensation measures for sectors within the agriculture industry, perhaps a €300 suckler cow grant to compensate for it.

I welcome the Minister's confirmation that the veto exists as a policy option, and I accept the Falconer paper published today, but if the options that were on the table up to now, which was the 70% cut in beef tariffs, the similar cuts in the dairy sector and across other sectors in the industry, are the ultimate proposals that will be put before the Irish Government to accept or reject, will the Government use the veto to reject them?

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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First, the view within the European Commission is that there is probably no more than a 50-50 chance of a deal. The Commission has not sent out any particular message that a deal is imminent——

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The French Agriculture Minister is; he has been very clear.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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We are well over time.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I said the Commission. Deputy Creed's question referred to my meeting last Friday week with the French Minister. That was the first meeting I had outside the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food since I was appointed. I spent half a day with Minister Barnier, and we both met the Taoiseach subsequently to discuss this issue. There was a meeting yesterday with Minister Barnier and other Ministers who are like-minded in terms of our concerns about where the negotiations are heading. At the weekend I will have the opportunity to have further discussions with other Ministers who share our serious concerns about these negotiations.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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We are well over time on this question.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Each member of the Government, be it the Minister for Foreign Affairs or the Taoiseach, has taken every opportunity in every forum to express our concerns.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Is there a plan B?

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I doubt if there is a plan B.