Tom Moffatt
Question:20 Dr. Moffatt asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the views, if any, he has on the Multilateral Trade Agreement and its effects on Irish exports. [10725/95]
Written Answers. - Uruguay Round.
Síle de Valera
Question:50 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the plans, if any, he has to fulfil the recent GATT agreement to reduce tariffs by 40 per cent over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10792/95]
John O'Donoghue
Question:70 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, which are being made by his Department to inform exporters of the opportunities arising out of the Uruguay Round GATT agreement beyond the publication of the document entitled Understanding GATT and its Effects. [10793/95]
Joe Walsh
Question:73 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, which are being made by his Department to make Ireland's involvement in the World Trade Organisation proactive. [10796/95]
Tony Killeen
Question:156 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on the Multilateral Trade Agreement and its effects on Irish exports. [10861/95]
Tony Killeen
Question:182 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, which are being made by his Department to make Ireland's involvement in the World Trade Organisation proactive. [11014/95]
Tony Killeen
Question:184 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, which are being made by him to inform exporters of the opportunities arising out of the Uruguay round/GATT agreement, over and beyond the understanding GATT and its effects document already published. [11017/95]
Tony Killeen
Question:185 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the plans, if any, he has to fulfil the recent GATT agreement to reduce tariffs by 40 per cent over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11018/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 50, 70, 73, 156, 182, 184 and 185 together.
The Uruguay Round of trade negotiations concluded in December 1993. The resulting agreement came into effect on 1 January 1995. The tariff reductions agreed during the Round are to be implemented, for the most part, in annual reductions over five years. Longer periods of up to ten years apply in the case of a limited range of products, such as agriculture and textiles.
In Ireland's case, the tariff reductions are implemented at EU level by means of changes in the Common Customs Tariff and the first of the scheduled reductions took place on 1 January 1995.
As a small country dependent on trade, Ireland has consistently supported trade liberalisation on a multilateral basis, while ensuring that the special needs of sensitive sectors like agriculture and textiles are fully taken into account. I believe that the successful completion of the Uruguay Round will boost investment confidence and economic growth in all markets, including the European Single Market, while at the same time providing a stable basis for trade and a reduction in trade disputes. These factors, coupled with the general reduction in tariffs and other obstacles to trade world-wide, will open new opportunities for our exporters.
Last November, my Department published and distributed a booklet which explained the main effects of the Uruguay Round in Ireland. The booklet was launched at a seminar which was organised in conjunction with IBEC and addressed by the then Director-General of GATT, Peter Sutherland. An Bord Tráchtála, in its day-to-day contacts with exporters, continues to emphasise the new opportunities that a more open international trading environment has brought.
Ireland, effectively, participates in the World Trade Organisations as a member of the European Union, the single biggest trading bloc in the world. The EU is represented by the Commission, negotiating in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Council of Ministers. I and my Department ensure that our particular trade interests are fully reflected in the common EU position put forward by the Commission.