Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 4

Written Answers. - EU Presidency.

169.Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to issue a calendar of meetings that are due to be held by the working group on trade under the Council of Ministers in the preparation for Ireland's period as president of the European Council; and if the agenda for trade negotiation meetings will be published during Ireland's Presidency. [4400/03]

A calendar of meetings in relation to the trade negotiations will be drawn up closer to the time when Ireland assumes the Presidency of the European Union. I will obviously consult with my Government colleagues, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in drawing up a calendar of meetings at Council and working group levels. This will also be prepared in consultation with the EU Council and Commission.

The Trade Agenda for Ireland's Presidency will be determined to a large extent on the stage of progress of the trade negotiations at WTO and EU fora, the priorities attached to specific issues as well as the milestones to be achieved and the outputs to be delivered under the Doha development agenda. Currently, and prior to the lead-in to the Irish Presidency, there is a substantial and diverse range of trade negotiation issues being considered at European Union level with substantive EU inputs being submitted for consideration at relevant WTO fora in Geneva across the whole spectrum of trade issues, including in the areas of agriculture, services and market access.

Question No. 170 answered with Question No. 168.

Barr
Roinn