Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Fisheries and Food the extent to which he has had discussions with his EU colleagues with a view to ensuring the future viability of the food sector in this country and throughout the EU particularly in the context of any on-going or future World Trade Organisation discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17919/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I and my officials have had extensive contacts with EU colleagues regarding the future viability of the EU and Irish agri-food sectors. These contacts have taken place against the background of the negotiations on reform of the CAP, the ongoing negotiations on the WTO Doha Development Agenda and the discussions on the proposed Free Trade Agreement with the MERCOSUR group of South American countries.

There has been serious engagement both at official and Ministerial level with the EU Commission, European Parliament and other Member States to press Ireland's position on the future policy direction of the CAP in advance of formal legislative proposals later in 2011.

I have held formal meetings with Commissioners Ciolos and Geoghegan Quinn and with my French, Spanish and Danish counterparts. I will be meeting my UK counterpart later this week. I have also had the opportunity to engage with all my EU Ministerial colleagues at three formal, one informal and one emergency meeting of the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers.

Intensive lobbying has also taken place in regard to the negotiations for a trade agreement with the MERCOSUR group of South American countries. Council meetings and bilateral discussions have afforded me the chance to present Ireland's formal position and have also presented an opportunity for me to engage informally with other EU colleagues.

Ireland's objectives both on CAP reform and MERCOSUR have been pursued through a range of other channels. My Department took an active part in high-level conferences organised by the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture and attended by some 20 Member States and, more recently, the Polish Ministry of Agriculture and attended by all 27 Member States. A series of bilateral meetings with the Commission services, the cabinets of Commissioner Ciolos, Barroso and Geoghegan Quinn and with MEPs, rapporteurs and officials from the European Parliament have also been held.

The WTO negotiations are stalled at present. Nevertheless, I continue to make my views known on the need for balance in any WTO agreement and to ensure that EU and Irish agriculture do not pay an unacceptable price for a successful deal.