Robert Molloy
Ceist:95 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will use the veto at the EC Council to block a GATT deal that is not favourable to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - GATT Negotiations.
Robert Molloy
Ceist:96 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he expects a GATT deal to be concluded by 15 December 1993, deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Robert Molloy
Ceist:97 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has calculated the cost to agriculture and the food industry of a GATT deal, based on the draft Blair House Agreement; if so, if he will give details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Question Nos. 95, 96 and 97 together.
The currently proposed outline agreement for agriculture was the subject of a series of parliamentary questions on 27 October and on that occasion I made a comperhensive statement detailing the Government's position and its negotiating strategy. I would refer the Deputy to the Parliamentary Debates, Vol. 435, No. 1 in respect of the statement given in reply to the parliamentary questions. In addition, the Government's position on the Round was outlined in detail in the House on 16 and 17 November.
There have been no substantive developments on the proposed agriculture agreement since 27 October. Discussions between the Commission and the US are continuing. Commissioner Britan met with Mr. Kantor, US Trade Secretary on 22 and 23 November on the overall Round negotiations and further discussions between the two sides are scheduled for next week.
At the Agriculture Council on 16 and 17 November I again repeated the concerns which I have with the proposed agreement on agriculture and pressed the Commission to secure the solutions to the problems I have identified. The Commission remains committed to the pursuance of discussions with the US in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Council on 20 September.
As indicated in my reply on 27 October, it is not possible to quantify at this stage the actual impact of the commitments on agriculture sectors or economies as this would largely be determined by the internal mechanisms adopted by the Community to fulfil undertakings. This would be a matter for the Council at a later date. I will, however, be insisting that any GATT commitments will be implemented within the Community in an equitable manner, full account being taken of the importance of agriculture and specific sectors for the economies of different member states and that farmer's income will be maintained at a level consistent with CAP reform.
Apart from agriculture, there are continuing difficulties in a number of other sectors, including market access, services and textiles, still to be resolved. At this stage it is not certain whether all outstanding issues can be resolved by the deadline of 15 December although all parties seem committed to respect that deadline.
As stated on 27 October, Ireland's approach to a final agreement will be decided by the Government when agreement has been reached in all areas and in the light of whether and to what extent our problems have been addressed.