Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:31 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he has put forward any nominee or made any proposal for a successor to Mr. Peter Sutherland as Director General of GATT.
Written Answers. - GATT Director General.
The issue of a successor to the Director General of GATT to head the newly established World Trade Organisation (WTO) is under active consideration at present both by the Contracting Parties to the GATT and by the European Union.
All candidates and potential candidates for the post will be given due consideration by the Government. In line with our usual policy on appointments of this nature, the Irish position is to seek consensus by the European Union in favour of one candidate. This is particularly important in the case of the GATT, given the significance of international trade to the Irish and European economies.