Vol. 470 No. 8
36 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Ireland will be represented at the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation Conference in Rome, starting on 13 November 1996; if so, if Ireland will be presenting any papers to this conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19893/96]
I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply to Deputy Callely.
The Taoiseach will represent Ireland at the World Food Summit, which will take place in Rome from 13-17 November and will address the summit as President of the Council of Ministers of the European Union.
In preparation for the summit Ireland, as Presidency, has chaired several EU co-ordination meetings which has resulted in the adoption of a common EU position. Also, Ireland takes the lead role in negotiations between the EU and other groupings.
The texts for the summit, the policy statement and plan of action, are currently under negotiation within the Committee on Food Security in Rome. It is intended that, though reaching agreement on these texts, the summit will renew the commitment of world leaders to the eradication of hunger and malnutrition and the achievement of global food security.
The Government looks forward to a successful outcome to the summit, which will lead to the adoption of concerted policies at all levels leading to the achievement of these goals.
