Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the abolition of export credit refunds by the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33811/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The framework agreement for the next WTO round which was concluded in Geneva in August 2004 commits member countries, including the EU, to negotiate detailed rules, including an end date, for the parallel elimination of all forms of export subsidies and for the introduction of disciplines on export measures with equivalent effect. The framework agreement covers export refunds, export credits, the trade distorting practices of state trading enterprises and food aid practices which are not in conformity with disciplines to be introduced. The new WTO agreement should ensure equal competition on the world market for all exporters. Negotiations are ongoing within the WTO and further efforts towards an agreement will be made at the WTO ministerial conference in Hong Kong in December.