Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the situation regarding the World Trade Organisation talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23727/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the World Trade Organisation is expected to affect the conduct of business within the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23702/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 106 together.

Intensive discussions are continuing in the current round of the WTO negotiations. There remain many issues to be resolved, not alone on the agriculture dossier, but also on the issues of non-agricultural market access, trade in services, rules and trade facilitation.

The Government wants to see a successful outcome to the negotiations that is fair to all sides. However, we remain very concerned at the lack of balance in the negotiations at this stage in the process. It continues to be our view that a disproportionate burden is being placed on European agriculture.

As it is not possible to predict how the negotiations will progress or whether a breakthrough can be achieved, it is not clear how developments in the WTO negotiations will impact on the conduct of business within the EU's enterprise sector. The Director General of the WTO, Mr. Pascal Lamy, hopes to organise a ministerial meeting in Geneva in the coming weeks to try to resolve outstanding differences and to achieve the breakthrough necessary to move the negotiations forward. However, no date has been set for the proposed meeting, and the prospects of it taking place remain uncertain.

The Government's approach to the WTO negotiations remains constant. We will continue to focus our efforts on securing a balanced outcome which takes account of the particular circumstances and challenges facing our agriculture sector, the opportunities presented for exports of our goods and services, and our commitment to promoting the interests of the world's poorest countries.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, together with the Minister of State with responsibility for Trade and Commerce, have overall responsibility for coordinating Ireland's policy with regard to the WTO and are very engaged in promoting our interests. My Department continues to work very closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in ensuring that Ireland's interests are promoted and protected in the negotiations.

In the critical period ahead, the Government will continue to use every opportunity to press home Ireland's concerns and to insist that the negotiations provide an agreement that is fair and balanced to all sides. We will spare no effort in our defence of Ireland's interests.