Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 458: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps he has taken to positively influence the World Trade Organisation discussions in favour of Irish and EU agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26391/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 460: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps he will take to favour Irish and European agriculture in the context of the World Trade Organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26393/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 460 together.

The current position in regard to the WTO negotiations is that talks are stalled following the failure to reach agreement at the Ministerial meeting last July and the decision to defer indefinitely a second Ministerial meeting planned for last December. The G20 meeting in April provided no new momentum for the negotiations nor did it set a date for a conclusion of the talks this year. All in all the prospects for agreement are uncertain and, on balance, it is difficult to see serious negotiations restarting until later this year and any conclusion in 2009.

Against that background, throughout the negotiations I, my officials and my colleagues in Government have actively and consistently pursued Ireland's interests at every opportunity by lobbying the Commission, by participating actively with groups of like-minded Member States to defend our interests and by articulating in every possible forum our commitment to a fair and balanced deal that delivers real benefits to Ireland and that does not sacrifice our agriculture sector.

Although the negotiations have been stalled since last December, we have continued our discussions with the Commission to reinforce the Irish view and to remind it of the importance of a balanced outcome.

The Irish Government 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. At official level, my Department, and other Departments involved will continue to work assiduously in the various technical meetings to ensure Ireland's interests are best protected.