Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed in the agricultural and industrial sectors at some of the recent EU developments in the context of the WTO; if he proposes to take action to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31226/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Michéal Martin T.D., has overall responsibility for negotiations on the current global trade round taking place in the framework of the World Trade Organization. My Department works closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in developing and implementing policy aimed at ensuring that Ireland's interests are promoted and protected in the negotiations. It had been hoped that the negotiations would be largely concluded by the end of 2007. However, it is now certain that they will extend well into 2008.

Ireland fully supports a successful conclusion to the current round of WTO negotiations. I can assure the Deputy that the Taoiseach, my colleagues the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and myself avail of every opportunity to advance Ireland's interests in the negotiations. The Government will continue to press for an overall balanced outcome to the negotiations across the different strands, including agriculture, industrial goods and services. The Government will strongly oppose any proposal that places an unfair burden on agriculture. Ireland also attaches the highest importance to promoting the interests of the world's poorest countries in the negotiations.