Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)

Part of our negotiating position should be a demand for a level playing pitch.

Last year, the World Bank wrote off a debt of $20 million for Ghana but imposed regulations on sugar production there that cost it $26 million, meaning Ghana was worse off by $6 million. Peter Mandelson and company would lead us to believe that these reforms at EU level at the WTO talks are to the benefit of poorer nations. That is nonsense. He would be better off taking the example of those who established Bóthar which exports live animals to teach people in developing countries about sustainable food production.

Today, I believed the Minister would make me more optimistic about the forthcoming negotiations in Hong Kong. I know she can smile because she is on her way there.