Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the status of the World Trade Organisation talks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3587/07]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the status of the World Trade Organisation talks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3741/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 176 together.

The negotiations on a new WTO agreement were launched at Doha in November 2001. While significant progress has been made towards concluding an agreement, most notably in the framework agreement which was reached in Geneva in August 2004 and at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December 2005, the negotiations broke down and were suspended in July 2006. Following a period of inactivity, they resumed again in December 2006 in a low-key manner based on discussions in Geneva at official rather than Ministerial level. No significant new proposals have been made by any of the key negotiating partners.

An informal meeting of WTO Ministers from the main negotiating partners took place in the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos on 28 January at which there was a general commitment to resumption of more formal negotiations. Accordingly, I expect that there will be a full resumption of the negotiations in Geneva with a view to making early progress in the next few months.

I am committed to an ambitious and balanced outcome to the negotiations. As an open economy dependent on trade Ireland has much to gain from a successful deal. I am concerned that the Commission has indicated recently that it is prepared to consider making an improved offer on the EU position, especially in relation to market access or tariff cuts. I remain determined that agriculture must not be sacrificed for the sake of an overall agreement and that, in accordance with the agreed EU negotiating mandate, a new WTO agreement will not necessitate further reform of the CAP. The EU has undertaken CAP reform in preparation for the negotiations and I believe that it has already made a generous offer to reduce trade distorting subsidies and to provide substantial Special and Differential Treatment for developing countries.

I have consistently outlined my position in the clearest possible terms in the Council of Agriculture Ministers, most recently on 29 January, and I have emphasised the absolute necessity that the Commission remain within the terms of the negotiating mandate. I will continue to work closely with like-minded Ministers in other Member States to seek support for my position.