Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Trade is the lifeblood of the country. We trade with many countries all over the world. That is where the multilateralism comes in and that is why multilateral forums are very important to Ireland. We need to deal with issues in a proper and informed way. Trade is not the be-all and end-all but it is a fairly significant issue for many people living in this country. It relates to jobs and quality of life. It is bread and butter for many small and medium-sized companies as well as bigger companies in the country.