Joe Walsh (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)

Decisions on any such reforms should be considered closer to that date when we will have a better view of the market conditions then prevailing and, crucially, of the outcome of the WTO round. The Agenda 2000 agreement provided for a substantial reform of the sector and we should allow that reform to be absorbed before proceeding further.

I have made my position on these proposals clear. I told the Council that significant fundamental reform was not necessary and significant reform would put pressure on the EU budget. The timing of such reform in the absence of further progress in the WTO round of negotiations was questionable strategically. Why should Europe make amendments and proposals without having a view of the WTO round? This would be tantamount to making concessions before receiving a response. The usual response to that in any argument is to pocket the concessions and start from a new threshold. The specific proposals were not – and are not – in accordance with stated EU policy objectives in relation to the European model of agriculture.

We hear much from Commissioner Fischler about multifunctional agriculture. I do not see how it is possible to have multifunctional agriculture by reducing farmers' direct payments on a level as low as €5,000 per annum. Most of all, the proposals would impact disproportionately on Ireland. My objective in the negotiations is to preserve the benefits to Irish agriculture and to rural communities achieved under the Agenda 2000 and I intend to do that.

We do not, nor did we ever, have many votes at the Council of Ministers. We have three votes out of 87. Nonetheless over the years in various reforms, particularly ones that have taken place since the early 1990s, we have wrung substantial concessions from the various negotiations. We have teamed up with other like-minded countries and got a decent outcome. I am confident we can do so again on this occasion.

Before people go into a debate, it is a pity they do not do some more research on the realities of life.