Mary Harney
Question:35 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when the agricultural provisions of GATT will be adopted; and the procedure by which the agreement will be adopted in Ireland.
Written Answers. - GATT
Martin Cullen
Question:38 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when the agricultural provisions of GATT will be adopted; and the procedure by which the agreement will be adopted in Ireland.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 38 together.
The Final Act embodying the results of the GATT Uruguay Round, including the agriculture provisions and, inter alia, the agreement establishing a World Trade Organisation were signed in Marrakesh in April. Subject to ratification by all Contracting Parties in the GATT, the agreement will come into force on 1 January, 1995.
The ratification procedure in Ireland involves three steps. First, the national laws, regulations and administrative procedure which need to be brought into comformity with the provisions of the agreement must be identified. The appropriate amendments must then be made within the time scales laid down. Second, the agreement establishing the new trade organisation will require Dáil approval as it imposes a charge on public funds and, third, it will be necessary to make an order to give the organisation legal status and appropriate privileges and immunities under our law. It is expected that we will be in a position to ratify the World Trade Organisation Agreement before the end of this year.
Regarding agricultural products, the European Union will be implementing the various commitments undertaken over a six year period, beginning at different dates in 1995 and ending in the year 2000.