Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Nov 2001

Vol. 544 No. 3

Written Answers. - World Trade Organisation.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

113 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the implications here of the outcome of the World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in Qatar; the progress made regarding the reforms sought by the Trade Matters Group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28638/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt):

The Government is pleased at the outcome of the WTO ministerial meeting in Doha last week. The final declaration agreed at the meeting provides for the launch of a new round of multilateral trade liberalisation negotiations across a broad range of trade related issues. The negotiations will begin as soon as possible and are scheduled to conclude by 2005.

The Government is particularly pleased that the conference paid close attention to the needs and concerns of the developing country members of the WTO and included within the future work programme those issues which developing countries wish to see addressed. I am confident that as the work programme proceeds, that developing countries influence in the multilateral trading environment will develop and intensify.

The Doha declaration in relation to the TRIPS Agreement and public health was, in my opinion, a particularly fine achievement by the conference and reflects the proper balance in this area between patent protection and legitimate access to medicines. The work programme agreed in the Doha declaration also covers such issues as the operation and mechanisms of the WTO, technical co-operation and capacity building for developing countries, implementation concerns of developing countries, and special and differential treatment for developing countries. The title which is now being used for the new round, "The Doha Development Agenda", is well justified and appropriate.

Question No. 114 answered with Question No. 97.