I propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 83 and 121 together.
I wish to inform the Deputy of a number of recent developments which have taken place in relation to the prevention of obstacles to trade within the Single Market. Arising from recent disruption of the free passage of Irish goods at United Kingdom ports, the Minister of State at my Department with responsibility for Single Market matters, Deputy Tom Kitt, wrote to the International Market Commissioner, Mario Monti, expressing the Government's deep concern at the impact of the blockade on the functioning of the Internal Market. He asked that the Commissioner and his colleagues take all possible steps to ensure that the rules of the Single Market are respected by all member states. Minister of State Kitt also spoke to his British opposite number, Lord Simon of Highbury, to express the Government's deep concern at the obstruction to trade. The Deputy will also be aware that the matter was raised by the Taoiseach with the British Prime Minister, and that the Ministers for Agriculture and Food, Foreign Affairs and Public Enterprise asked their British counterparts to take the necessary measures to ensure the free flow of trade through UK ports.
The general question of obstacles to the free movement of goods within the Single Market was discussed at the Amsterdam European Council last June. The council requested the European Commission to submit proposals to effectively guarantee the free movement of goods. The commission's proposal, which would provide an accelerated legal procedure for formal commission intervention at an early stage to limit obstacles to trade, has since been submitted. I welcome this proposal and I support the UK Presidency's efforts to obtain agreement at council.
Regarding EU Competition Law, Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty, concerning competition and abuse of abdominal positions do not apply in this context.
