Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

I congratulate the Minister on his appointment. I look forward to working with him in this House.

The Minister's outline of the existing position regarding the WTO ignores the questions raised in this House and the issue signalled to the Leader that Members required to be addressed. It is not a question of vetoing the WTO as it stands; it is a question of backing up one's words about defending Irish agriculture and indicating one's intention to utilise the veto if required. That is the assurance being sought by the Irish Farmers Association and the ICMSA.

The Minister's outline of the position also ignores the context in which this discussion is taking place which is the Lisbon treaty referendum and the serious concern expressed by farmers in regard to the WTO as reflected in a poll recorded in the Irish Farmers' Journal. A political link has been made between the Lisbon referendum and the WTO discussions.

Ireland has moved from being a predominantly agricultural country to being an industrial service economy. The United States and France are major industrial powers yet they protect and safeguard their agriculture in these type of negotiations. As Senator Bradford stated, France which is a like-minded country in regard to agriculture has clearly signalled its intention to use the veto if necessary. Up to now the Government has not accepted it has a veto to use.

This matter has now been clarified, in particular by the intervention of the European Commission spokesman on trade, whose words clearly indicated that every country has a veto on these negotiations and that situation will not change with the Lisbon treaty. In view of this perhaps the Minister could, in his reply, clarify whether the assurance which he was given that the Government wishes to support and safeguard Irish agriculture will be made stand up and count when the time comes. It is very easy to make these statements and then wash hands if the negotiations do not go according to plan. It is incumbent on the Government to give a clear indication whether it has the bottle to say that it will use the veto if Irish agriculture is undermined by these negotiations. Farmers deserve no less.

The European People's Party, of which Fine Gael is a member, made a clear statement on the WTO agreement. A fair and balanced WTO deal is necessary and agriculture must not be sacrificed. It also called for the European Commission not to exceed its existing mandate and to confirm that it will accept an agreement that will safeguard the European model of agriculture and ensure a high level of food security in Europe. There is a broad consensus on that but perhaps the Minister might address the matter in his reply. In the event that the wish of the Government to safeguard agriculture cannot be secured will it be prepared to utilise the veto which is, as is clearly established, at its disposal?