Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

That will happen because the agreement reached at the last major meeting of the WTO in Doha referred to the eventual elimination of subsidies and these policies will have to be brought together sooner rather than later. Agreements were made at Doha, by which we will abide, regarding the CAP but we will have to face up to the merger of development and agricultural policies.

However, European Ministers for trade agreed useful measures. For instance, we introduced the everything but arms initiative, which means the 48 poorest countries have duty free access to EU markets for everything but arms. They produce tremendous agricultural goods. However, they do not have trade boards and development agencies. Measures were also introduced at WTO level to support these countries to increase their trade capacity. We can share our experience of generating increased growth over the years.

During that period we also provided special assistance in terms of legal advice. The WTO regime and its rules and regulations are extremely complicated. European Union Ministers considered it important to give them legal support. That is being established and will be based in Geneva. Many good things happened in the WTO discussions of which, perhaps, people were not aware. I will bring that experience with me into this ministry. It is important that the trade issue is firmly brought centre stage in the development agenda.

I thank Senators for their support and their positive contributions and I look forward to working with them in the months ahead. Some Members have been abroad to see what is happening in these countries. Any Member who gets such an opportunity, through committees and other bodies, should avail of it and make such visits. They have had a profound effect on me. I hope I will be able to assist that process, in both Houses, over the coming years.