Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Mar 2003

Vol. 562 No. 5

Written Answers - International Coffee Trade.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

139 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action the Government proposes to take or proposes to support internationally to address the crisis in coffee producers' incomes and the threats to lives and livelihoods in such areas as central Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6431/03]

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

230 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the Oxfam proposal for a coffee rescue plan under the auspices of the International Coffee Organisation, in view of the recent coffee market failure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6586/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 230 together.

I remain concerned at the crisis in the international coffee trade and the problems this is causing for producers, including in such areas as central Ethiopia. The international coffee crisis was discussed at the General Affairs Council in November last. There, the Commission undertook to come forward with ideas to address the situation of commodities in general. The general consensus among Ministers is that there is no short-term solution to the problem. It was agreed that initiatives needed to be taken and the issue had to be looked at in the broader context including with a view to sustainable development. I expect the council to return to this matter soon on the basis of the Commission's ideas for dealing with the commodities situation.

The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Kitt, participated in discussions to learn of the effects of the crisis in Ethiopia during his recent visit to that country. His talks with Prime Minister Meles and some of his ministers underlined the extent to which the downturn in coffee prices was affecting Ethiopia's economy. The OXFAM report, Mugged: Poverty in your Coffee Cup, draws attention to the fact that the livelihoods of 25 million coffee producers are affected by the fall in the price of coffee. I have noted the recommendations in the report that the UN Conference on Trade and Development should develop a long-term integrated strategy to tackle the problem of commodities and organise a major international conference on coffee with the International Coffee Organisation by February or March 2003.

In the wake of the publication of the OXFAM report the International Coffee Organisation, of which Ireland, along with the other EU member states, is a member, put in place the coffee quality improvement programme on 1 October 2002. Ireland has given positive endorsement to the quality improvement programme of the International Coffee Organisation. This programme aims to improve the supply of high-quality coffee on the world market by adopting minimum standards for exported coffee. This measure will improve market equilibrium and help to eliminate the presence of low-quality coffee from the market.