Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details of his most recent discussions at EU level with regard to future trade negotiations and in particular with regard to the prospect of a Mercosur deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45244/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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There are a number of trade negotiations taking place at present. In relation to the World Trade Organisation talks, these are ongoing but there have been no significant breakthroughs since their near collapse in 2008. Prospects for a breakthrough or an agreement being reached in 2011 continue to remain uncertain. I am, however, determined to ensure that any agreement reached is balanced in all its dimensions and does not place a disproportionate burden on EU or Irish agriculture. The EU is also negotiating a number of bilateral trade agreements, with amongst others, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Ukraine and Canada, countries where Ireland has some offensive trade interests

In relation to the EU Mercosur negotiations, which are continuing at present, no offers have yet been made. Ireland has been to the forefront in urging caution regarding the resumption of the EU Mercosur talks, in particular in relation to the possible impact on individual agriculture sectors and notably the Irish beef sector. As recently as last Monday's EU Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels, I conveyed our Government's serious reservations about the impact of these negotiations. I had already requested impact assessments of the implications of these negotiations on individual agriculture sectors. In the Agriculture Council, I called for full transparency in the negotiations and requested that the Commission ensure, in particular, that Council is presented with these impact assessments and that they are fully discussed in advance of any offers to be made by the EU.

Earlier this year, Ireland also helped to draft a joint paper for submission to the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers, which was co-signed by France, Austria, Finland, Greece, Hungary and Poland. This paper highlighted our concerns on the resumption of the talks including the possible concessions on agriculture that would be required to achieve an agreement and sought clarification and assurances in relation to any future talks. The concerns expressed in that joint paper were also echoed by many other member states in the May Council. At that Agriculture Council, I also highlighted the serious losses for European agriculture and the greater market access concessions that could result from an EU/Mercosur Free Trade Agreement.

I have also met separately with both Commissioners Ciolos and de Gucht to convey our concerns about the implications of these negotiations on the beef sector and have written to both Commissioners highlighting the importance of agriculture as the largest indigenous manufacturing industry in the context of Ireland's economic recovery and outlining the impact such an agreement would have on the beef sector, in particular the high quality beef cuts market in the EU. In these communications, I have sought recognition of the differentiated nature of the beef market in the EU to avoid the possibility of particular subsections of the EU beef market being targeted, in particular the higher value cuts market. Commissioner Ciolos has acknowledged that key sectors and regions of EU agriculture had major concerns about the potential economic impact of these discussions, and that a number of member states, including Ireland, had a high level of specialisation in beef production. I and my officials are very active and vigilant in these negotiations.

While the EU Mercosur talks have been re-launched, it is in effect a reopening of talks that were originally opened a number of years ago but which were effectively suspended in 2004 after 16 rounds of negotiations, arising from major differences between the two sides in terms of expectations across a range of headings including industrial goods, agriculture, services and intellectual property. Doubts still remain among many Member States about the possibility of an agreed outcome in these talks.