John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will make a statement on correspondence (details supplied). [4602/04]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the external effects of CAP reform, for example on developing countries, will be fully dealt with by the EU Agriculture Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4726/04]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will ensure that CAP reforms which benefit Irish farmers will not impact negatively on farmers in other countries, especially African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. [4965/04]

Joe Walsh (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 219, 224 and 228 together.

The recent reform of the CAP will be of benefit to developing countries. Decoupled payments will replace production-related supports, thereby reducing the potential distortion impact of these measures.

The Council of Agriculture Ministers and the European Union generally are acutely aware of the needs of developing countries and of the implications for them of policy decisions taken at EU level. The EU has provided over many years for preferential access to EU markets for exports from developing countries through the ACP association agreement, the generalised system of preferences and other preferential trade agreements. More recently, the EU has offered duty-free and quota-free access to all imports except arms from the least developed countries. Also, in the context of the current WTO round of trade negotiations, the EU has offered generous arrangements under the heading of special and differential treatment for developing countries.