Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

In this week's Irish Farmers' Journal, a poll shows that 78% of farmers are concerned about the WTO talks. This is largely due to the Government playing games with the issue. It has not clarified its position on the veto. As discussed in the House, the veto does not apply in the case of international agreements on agriculture per se. The WTO talks pertain to a mixed agreement on goods and services in respect of which the Government does have a veto. Is this the Government's understanding of the matter and is it prepared to exercise the veto? Until the Government makes a clear statement on this issue, farmers will remain concerned and will make a link, however false, with the Lisbon treaty. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister to clarify his understanding of the exercise of the veto in this round of WTO negotiations and state whether the Government is prepared to exercise it.

It has been asked whether the veto will remain after the passage of the treaty. The reality is that the treaty states expressly the Council shall act unanimously for the negotiations and conclusions of agreements in the area of social, educational and health services. This is the link that enables a veto to apply in the present case but if there is a similar mixed international agreement in the future, this provision would apply and a veto could be exercised. It is important to recognise that the Government has a veto on a mixed agreement and will continue to do so.

The farm organisations and others, including political parties, have made a link between the WTO talks and the Lisbon treaty. The reality is that there is no legal link although there is a political one. Farm organisations must be aware that if they make the political link and persist in doing so, there will be consequences. It is incumbent on the Government to clarify the position.

The medium-term economic review published this week by the ESRI pointed out the importance of services to our economy. Agriculture is very important but, according to the review, services now account for 43% of our exports and will account for 60% by 2015. Therefore, a balanced agreement is important. We need to achieve a good agreement for agriculture and also for services.