Food and Agriculture Organisation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Questions (818)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

818. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding Ireland's position at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations based in Rome, Italy, if Ireland's position as a full member of the FAO is ever different to that of the European Union, which is also a full member of the FAO, bearing in mind the fact that Ireland is a member State of the EU; the steps that will be taken within the FAO if the position of Ireland and the EU ever differs; if Ireland, as current Chair of the Council Working Group in Brussels where the EU develops common positions, is ever used for resolving differential opinions between member states and the EU; if position alignment is ever discussed at the FAO Council and the FAO Legal Committee between member states and the EU, of which Ireland is a member of both; his views on whether both a member state of the EU such as Ireland and the EU itself, both being full members of the FAO is beneficial; his views on whether both member states and the EU itself being members of the FAO could be a model to be replicated by the EU at the United Nations in New York for the the General Assembly where they do not enjoy full status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27632/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Ireland, like all other EU Member States , is a full member of the FAO. Each Member State has its own individual relationship with FAO and with other Member Countries of that organization. Ireland provides bilateral aid to the FAO, as it does to the World Food Programme (WFP), another Rome-based organization of the UN.

Since the accession of the EU to the FAO in 1991, Member States have cooperated with EU officials at various FAO fora. There is a coordination group for EU Member States within the European Council structures. This allows the Member States to hear the Commission perspective and to incorporate it into their dealings with the FAO. The EU also prepares statements on behalf of all Member States in areas where the EU has specific competency (for example on agricultural or fisheries trade matters). However, just as in Brussels, Member States still have autonomy as sovereign states and the EU Council still prepares a common position through discussion at Member State level.

As in all other matters, therefore, Ireland co-operates with its fellow EU Member States and with the EU Commission to ensure that Ireland’s interests are properly represented both within the EU and at UN level. Currently, Ireland holds the rotating Presidency of the EU Council. This means that Ireland prepares the common position of all Member States and presents this position in Rome. Ireland has been very active in seeking consensus on several issues, including giving greater visibility to the need for adequate nutrition and the need for a greater strategic focus for the work of the FAO. This involves a great deal of negotiating, not just within the EU but at a global level. Ireland also has its own interests to defend in terms of how Irish contributions are spent. We also participate in a range of technical meetings in relation to animal health, plant health and food security.

The FAO is the largest specialised agency of the UN and plays a crucial role in global agricultural policy, international standardization and in the fight against climate change. Ireland has a proud record in this organization and continues to contribute to global policy via this forum. Other UN organizations have their own mechanisms and are the responsibility of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.