Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his EU colleagues have engaged with representatives of the World Trade Organisation with a view to ensuring the future viability and security of the food industry in Ireland and throughout the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7452/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which agreement has been reached or is likely to be reached between the EU negotiators and the World Trade Organisation with a view to ensuring the future and ongoing development of the food-producing sector in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7453/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 191 together.

The WTO Doha Development Round talks are stalled at present and the prospects for conclusion of an agreement are uncertain at this point in time. Nevertheless, the EU Commission continues to represent the views of Ireland and other EU Member States in discussions with other trading partners based on positions agreed at EU level. These positions take account of the desire of the majority of EU Member States for a strong common agricultural policy that ensures viable food production, sustainable management of natural resources and climate action and balanced territorial development. I will continue to maintain pressure to secure an acceptable outcome from the WTO negotiations that does not undermine the development of European and Irish agriculture.