Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2015
208. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the substantive priorities at this week's World Trade Organization ministerial conference; if these priorities have taken Ireland's development co-operation objectives into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45728/15]
View answerThe 10 Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is underway from 15-18 December in Nairobi, Kenya. My colleague, Mr Damien English, T.D., Minister of State for Skills, Research and Innovation is representing Ireland at the Ministerial Conference. At the WTO, the European Commission leads negotiations on behalf of the European Union, and Ireland actively participates in the formulation of EU positions at the negotiations. Minister English is also attending the parallel EU Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) which takes place in Nairobi.
Ireland’s priorities are represented by the EU position negotiated at the Ministerial Conference. Ireland, along with the other 27 Member States, believes that agreeing on a balanced and ambitious outcome on export competition (which includes export subsidies; export credits; state trade enterprises and food aid) would constitute an important step forward in the process of creating a stronger and fairer multilateral trading system, especially for Developing and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Ireland also supports an agreement on a “development package” following on from the ninth Ministerial Conference, comprising of (i) better duty-free, quota-free access; (ii) enhanced services waiver; (iii) streamlined rules of origin and (iv) greater market access for cotton producing countries, as well as work on Food Security. Finally, in terms of priorities, Ireland is seeking agreement on new rules to deliver greater transparency, in relation to anti-dumping, regional trade agreements and various subsidy regimes.
My Department liaises closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure that the needs of LDCs are taken into account in the articulation of Ireland’s position at the WTO, at EU level.
In addition to our work at the Ministerial Conference in this regard, Ireland has also provided €50,000 this year to support LDC participation at the Ministerial Conference so that LDCs can be present and make their voices heard directly during the negotiations.
I understand that Minister English, as well as meeting with Irish companies operating in Kenya, is also meeting with a number of local non-governmental development organisations with the assistance of the Irish Embassy in Nairobi.
