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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 3

Written Answers. - Agenda 2000.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

91 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his plans for the future of agriculture here having particular regard to the impact of Agenda 2000 and potential effects of the forthcoming World Trade Organisation talks; his anticipated stance in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12394/02]

The Agenda 2000 agreement which covers the period 2000 to 2006 and which was finalised in Berlin in March 1999, represented a highly satisfactory outcome for Irish agriculture and rural areas. My intention is to safeguard, to the greatest extent possible, the benefits to Ireland from the agreement in the context of the forthcoming mid-term review and the negotiation of a new World Trade Organisation round.

The EU's negotiating mandate on agriculture for the WTO negotiations, which has been agreed by the Council of Ministers, is based primarily on the Agenda 2000 agreement. I am satisfied that the WTO ministerial declaration which launched the new round of WTO negotiations in Doha in November 2001 is in accordance with that mandate. The mandate provides a satisfactory framework for protecting the interests of the Irish agriculture and food industries and it is my intention to ensure that it will be fully respected in the negotiations themselves, which are scheduled to end by 2005.

It is vitally important that farmers and others involved in the agri-food sector are fully prepared for the future challenges and opportunities that may emerge. For that reason, I established in June 1999 a group to make recommendations on the development of the sector during the present decade. The group's report entitled "Agri Food 2010" was completed in March 2000 and I pub lished a plan of action in August 2000 setting out the Government's response to the report. Substantial funding for the implementation of the plan of action has been provided in the National Development Plan, 2000-2006. I am confident, therefore, that the Irish agri-food sector will be well prepared to face the challenges that may arise in the future.
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