A new round of multilateral trade negotiations, including agriculture, was launched at the WTO Doha ministerial conference last November. The outcome of the new round, which will be of immense significance for EU and Irish agriculture, will pose a major challenge. The next WTO round will determine the conditions under which we can continue to export to third countries, the level of market access for our competitors to the EU market and the levels of EU support that can be provided for agriculture. We have particular concerns in relation to the retention of the European Union's system of direct payments and export subsidies. As I have already indicated, direct payments make a substantial contribution to farm incomes in Ireland and, under the current GATT Uruguay Round agreement, are exempt from reductions. My aim will be to ensure the continuation of this exemption into the future. I spoke of direct payments to farmers of €1.4 billion this year. If that is challenged by the WTO, it will have serious implications for Irish farmers and I want to continue the exemption.