Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 303: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures she is considering to protect small farm producers of agricultural produce from low cost imports, including producers in the most recent round of EU accession states; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15185/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Trade in agricultural products among member countries of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, is regulated by agreements concluded between the members of that organisation. Negotiations on a new agreement have been under way for some time and are expected to conclude at the WTO ministerial conference in Hong Kong in December 2005. While the Commission negotiates on behalf of the EU on the basis of a mandate agreed by the Council of Ministers, my objective is to ensure that Ireland will remain competitive on the domestic and EU markets as a result of the level of tariff protection that will apply on imports from third countries under the new agreement.

Trade between Ireland and other member states is subject to EU internal market rules which preclude action against imports from another member state except in the most exceptional circumstances such as risk to human health or outbreak of serious animal disease.