Brian Cowen
Question:7 Mr. Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to seek a meeting of the joint trade commission between Ireland and Iran, of which he is co-chairman. [19982/96]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Joint Trade Commission.
Brian Cowen
Question:35 Mr. Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when the joint trade commission between Ireland and Iran, of which he is co-chairman, last met. [19981/96]
Hugh Byrne
Question:43 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the official visits, if any, he has made to Iran; and the plans, if any, he has for such a visit. [19983/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 35 and 43 together.
I have not yet had an opportunity to make an official visit to Iran. However, I have had several meetings with my Iranian colleague and counterpart, Foreign Minister Velyati. We met in Dublin in 1994 and have had other meetings at the UN in New York in September 1995 and again last month.
The Joint Commission for Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technical Co-operation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Ireland last met in Dublin in 1994. Since then, there have been some scheduling difficulties on both sides in fixing mutually convenient dates for a next meeting of the joint commission, which is to be held in Iran, but arrangements are being kept under review.
The Minister said there had been some scheduling difficulties on both sides. The reality is that the Minister is being ruled by EU views while other members of the EU have experienced no difficulty in doing business in Iran. This question is directly related to the problems experienced by our farmers with the beef trade and the potential of the Iranian market. It is incumbent on the Minister to forget the diplomatic niceties in relation to the EU and use his position as Minister for Foreign Affairs to be in Iran where political influence is crucial to ensure that market is opened again to our beef farmers.
Supplementary questions of that nature to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs are not in order. These matters should be tabled in the normal way to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
There is an important trade section in the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Minister always had a role in trade matters. Yesterday I had a question to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs in relation to the steps, if any, he has taken and is taking in his capacity as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to ensure that the current disastrous situation facing Irish agriculture is alleviated, in view of the serious implications for the Irish beef industry, following the Government's decision to abandon the counties of Cork, Tipperary and Monaghan at the request of the Russians and whether he will undertake an immediate visit to Iran to help open this market for Irish beef. The reply stated that: "This question impinges on the collective responsibility of the Government".
Quotations at Question Time are not permitted.
We are back to the pane of glass as far as openness, transparency and accountability are concerned and the lack of a window cleaner.
The Chair has ruled on this matter. This is an issue for the appropriate Minister.
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Deputy Deenihan, pointed out that his intervention in Russia was very helpful in trying to keep the Russian market open because he had visited the country. A Deputy from the same constituency, who happens to be the President of the General Affairs Council of the EU, whose mere presence in Iran would be highly influential——
We should not pursue this matter any further.
——and helpful to the Irish beef industry and Irish farmers sits here and does not reply.
Frankly, it would be out of order. The Chair has ruled on this matter. Deputies are aware that Standing Orders require questions to be addressed to the Minister who has primary responsibility for the matter on which information is being sought.
Collective responsibility of Government.
With all due respect, I do not wish to disobey the Chair but Deputy Burke has had his say. Nobody will deny that the beef trade with Iran is extremely important. It has been affected as is the case in other countries by the consequences of the BSE crisis. In all such cases we should be clear that the concerns of the countries involved have been about public health and the wholesomeness of our beef. It is by satisfying our customers and not by political coaxing that these markets have been kept open. For example, our beef trade markets with Egypt and Saudi Arabia were kept open by the combined efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and by our embassies in those countries. The Governments of the countries to which we export beef and beef products respond very negatively to the implication or suggestion that public health or consumer concerns might be subordinate to political considerations or set aside by irrelevant political gestures or pressure. It does scant service to the image of our beef exports or to the task of ensuring full confidence in their quality or wholesomeness to suggest otherwise. Public opinion in the countries concerned and in Ireland is unlikely to be impressed by the links which Deputy Burke is trying to establish.
Quite apart from beef, in which the Minister does not seem to want to get involved, is he aware that in the past Iran, as a large country, has been a major market for Irish goods generally and it is unsatisfactory that a period of two and a half years has elapsed since this joint trade commission met? On the Irish side it cannot be called by anyone except the Minister because he is the co-chairman. He does have a trade function. The particular country concerned is one of several throughout the world that tend to do business only through these joint trade commissions. It is difficult to get any substantial business in beef or otherwise outside this structure. The structure is unusual for us but it is one we have to accept when we are trying to do business with certain countries. In view of Iran's relatively large size and its importance, on occasions at least in the past as a major market, will he arrange to overcome his scheduling difficulties and call a meeting of the joint commission? If he calls it, as joint chairman, presumably the Iranian authorities will be glad to comply with the request.
I did offer dates to the Iranian authorities and they were not able to comply with them. As soon as the conditions are right and when suitable dates are found I will visit Iran.
That concludes Questions for today.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.