Vol. 475 No. 8
230 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the issues, if any, which have been brought to his attention which are perceived by prospective trading countries as barriers for such trade; the measures, if any, he has taken to address such issues; the additional measures, if any, he intends to put in place in 1997 in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6176/97]
Barriers to trade that have been brought to my attention in the recent past relate mainly to failure to fully implement the rules governing the free movement of goods and services within the European Union Single Market and tariff and non-tariff barriers in major markets outside the EU.
The issue of remaining barriers to trade within the Single Market was one of the subjects of a major review of the functioning of the Internal Market which was presented by the EU Commission to a meeting of the Internal Market Council which I presided over during the Irish Presidency. The review, which confirms that the Single Market has contributed to increased levels of income and employment, also highlights the need for further action to be taken to ensure that Single Market legislation is correctly applied and effectively enforced throughout the European Union.
The Dublin European Council subsequently noted the Commission's intention to present to the European Council in Amsterdam an action plan and a timetable covering all necessary measures that must be taken to ensure that the full potential benefit of the Internal Market is achieved before the beginning of Stage 3 of European Monetary Union.
In relation to barriers to trade in non-EU markets, the main focus of attention is the World Trade Organisation. I represented the EU Presidency at the first ministerial conference of the organisation which was held in Singapore in December last. The conference reviewed the implementation of the trade liberalisation commitments entered into by WTO members in the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations and established a work-programme for the organisation focusing on further measures needed to eliminate obstacles to trade. The conference also laid the basis for subsequent specific liberalisation measures in the area of telecommunications, information technology goods and spirits. The liberalisation of trade in information technology goods and in spirits is of particular importance to this country.
I continue to avail of various bilateral meetings with representatives from other countries to raise issues relevant to the export interests of particular sectors of Irish industry or of individual companies. Where action at EU level is required, such issues are also raised by my officials in the specialised EU committees dealing with obstacles to trade in the Single Market and in third countries.
