Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 May 2000

Vol. 520 No. 2

Written Answers. - WTO Negotiations.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

93 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if it is his policy to seek a moratorium on further trade and negotiations in the World Trade Organisation until impact assessments on food security have been carried out. [15622/00]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

94 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if it is his policy to insist that any future agreements on agriculture prioritise the establishment of mechanisms to take account of developing world food security concerns, a so called food security box within the World Trade Organisation. [15624/00]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

95 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if it is his policy to take steps along with other countries to minimise the negative effects of the Common Agricultural Policy instruments in individual developing countries and regions. [15626/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh):

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 93, 94 and 95 together.

The WTO negotiations on agriculture have already commenced under the mandate established by Article 20 of the 1994 Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture. The agreement specifically identifies non-trade concerns for inclusion in the negotiations and food security will be treated as a non-trade concern. I am conscious of the importance of actions to support food security in developing countries, as reflected in the development assistance activities of Ireland Aid and the commitments entered into at the World Food Summit in 1996.

The period to the end of this year will be taken up in examination and analysis of issues and developments and in submissions by member countries. This process will provide all WTO member countries, including the developing countries, with the opportunity to raise issues of concern to them before the negotiations proper begin next year.

Ireland participates in the WTO negotiations as a member of the EU. The Commission will be negotiating on the basis of a mandate agreed by the Council of Ministers. The mandate reflects the decision by the European Council in Berlin that the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy within the framework of Agenda 2000 would constitute the essential elements of the EU's position for the WTO negotiations. The mandate also recognises the need for a special and differential treatment for the developing countries and acknowledges that the new WTO round should provide benefits to developing countries and assist the integration of those countries, particularly the least developed countries, into the international trade system.