Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 14 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 4

Written Answers. - Ministerial Meetings.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

35 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he has had bilateral meetings or discussions with other EU member state Agriculture Ministers since 29 November 2001; if so, the contents of those discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4962/02]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

I met with the Spanish Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries on 15 January 2002. Spain currently holds the Presidency of the EU and the meeting took place in Dublin for the purpose of an exchange of views on the issues which are expected to come before the Council of Agriculture Ministers during the Spanish Presidency.

The issues discussed included the mid-term review of Agenda 2000, animal health and food safety issues, EU enlargement and the WTO negotiations. The meeting provided me with a most useful opportunity to set out for the information of the current President of the Agriculture Council, Irish interests and concerns in relation to the issues discussed.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

36 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he has had discussions with the Swedish Government regarding its proposals to reform the common agricultural policy in order to halt the dumping of EU foods in poor countries; his views on this suggestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4958/02]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

While I am aware of the Swedish Government's position in relation to changes to the common agricultural policy, I have not had formal bilateral discussions on the matter with members of the Swedish government.

With Ireland's agreement, the EU Development Ministers adopted in June 1997 a resolution on the issue of coherence between the Community's development co-operation and its other policies. In the food security area, the resolution emphasises the need to ensure that agricultural exports and food aid in kind do not damage the production and marketing capacity of developing countries. The EU also operates a code of practice in relation to food aid, which was adopted in 1997 with Ireland's agreement, with the aim of avoiding any harmful effects of food aid on local production and marketing structures.

The ministerial declaration for the launch of the new round of WTO negotiations which was agreed by all WTO members at the ministerial conference in Doha last November provides that special and differential treatment for developing countries will be an integral part of all elements of the negotiations so as to enable developing countries to effectively take account of their development needs, including food security and rural development. All member countries of the WTO, including developing countries, will have the opportunity to raise issues of concern to them in the context of the new round of negotiations.