Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the action he proposes to take in the event of the World Trade Organisation being influenced by the Mandelson proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19893/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he and his EU colleagues have an agreed strategy to ensure that the Irish and European food producing sectors are not damaged or placed at a disadvantage by the World Trade Organisation discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19894/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that agricultural production here will not be determinately affected by the World Trade Organisation discussions, having particular regard to the fact that Ireland is a food producing nation, exporting almost all of its products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19895/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 to 384, inclusive, together.

A revised negotiating text on agriculture was issued yesterday evening and a text on non-agricultural market access earlier today. These texts are being issued with a view to facilitating a final WTO agreement by the end of 2008. It is by no means clear whether such an agreement will be reached this year. The range of issues outstanding across the broad spectrum of the negotiations and the US political situation are among the factors that make it uncertain whether an agreement can be secured in the coming period. Already there is slippage in the negotiating timetable. A Ministerial meeting, anticipated to take place on 19 May, has been deferred and the latest indications are that it will not now take place until the end of June or even early July.

Against this background, there is no doubt that these WTO negotiations represent a significant challenge for EU and Irish agriculture. I and my Government colleagues are seeking a balanced and fair outcome across all of the various pillars of the negotiations. I am very concerned about some of the proposals being made in the agriculture negotiations and with the lack of balance in the overall process. It is not acceptable that the current negotiations are focused on agriculture while other negotiating areas are not making progress.

The Irish Government has and will continue to take every opportunity to express our concerns in the strongest terms in the various EU and WTO meetings dealing with these negotiations. I recently met my French counterpart in Dublin, and the current state of play and imbalance in these WTO negotiations were high on the agenda of this meeting. I can report that France and Ireland share the same concerns on the direction of these negotiations and will continue to insist that the Commission does not accept a deal which undermines EU agricultural production.

The Commission, including Commissioner Mandelson and his officials, are well aware of Ireland's views on the matter. These views have been articulated clearly and consistently at all available forums over the last several years, including bilateral meetings, meetings of the Article 133 Committee, the Agriculture Council and the General Affairs Council and in bilateral meetings with the Commission. As the negotiations progress I will continue to impress on the Commission that Ireland will not accept an unbalanced agreement which does not provide real benefits to Ireland and the EU.

At yesterday's Agriculture Council of Ministers meeting, I re-emphasised to the Agriculture Commissioner, Mrs. Fischer Boel and to the Council as a whole, Ireland's concerns, insisting that any WTO agreement must not place a disproportionate burden on EU and Irish agriculture. I will also continue to ensure that Ireland plays a leading role in the Group of 14+ like-minded Member States who have come together to express concerns in relation to the direction of the WTO agriculture negotiations. I will continue to work closely with like-minded Ministers in other Member States to seek support for my position. At official level, my Department, and other Departments involved, have and will continue to work assiduously in the various technical meetings to ensure Ireland's interests are best protected.

In summary, I will continue to pursue an outcome which does not undermine the 2003 reforms of the CAP and ensures that Irish and EU agriculture can compete on world markets. The current world food situation, with demand exceeding supply and stocks falling to unprecedented low levels, underlines the need for Europe to retain a strong agriculture production base. Security of food supply is firmly back on the European agenda — this was very clear at the Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting yesterday. This was not the situation when we started out on these WTO talks seven years ago — back then Ireland was a relatively isolated voice on this issue, but the great majority of European agriculture ministers now recognise its importance. My view is that we must seek to make the CAP more effective in supporting our farmers and food industries. Our efforts should focus on building a better and stronger CAP, adapted to contemporary needs, not to dismantling a policy that has proven so effective.