I will deal with some of the issues before dealing with the main issue, the WTO talks.
On the issue of prominent business people taking a pro or an anti view, citizens of this country have a right to express their views. I welcome that. However, there needs to be a tiny bit of balance in the broadcast media. I do not understand the views of the two gentlemen in question but I respect them and their right to express them. It is just a little odd that a national broadcasting station, which should be interested in balance and objectivity, cannot give to the great preponderance of employers on this island the traction and time that was given to one individual last week. When organisations such as the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland, which represents employers that provide in excess of 100,000 jobs on this island, and IBEC, which represents virtually every employer, and the Dublin and Cork chambers of commerce make their views heard, circumstances will be different.
I respect the gentleman to whom time was given and his business acumen, and I certainly respect his capacity to do business outside this country and wish him well. As a citizen, I respect that he holds a different view from mine but I hope the national broadcast media in particular will show respect for balance and will be willing to give equal programme time to those who take a different view from the man in question, especially the large number of employers who toil to create employment. RTE made a fundamental error in terms of balance last weekend but every organisation is entitled to make the odd error.
The print media in Ireland, in contrast to those in every other country, have done a fantastic job. I refer in particular to the broadsheets, specifically The Irish Times and also the Irish Examiner, which have devoted much space to the issue. The Independent News & Media group has done a good job also, as have local broadcasting and print media. Consequently, we should not overreact to one departure from good balance.
Deputy Creighton made a point on criticism of the Commission. She made an excellent point to the effect that one reason we should vote "Yes" is that the principles of subsidiarity, proportionality and conferral are very closely associated in the treaty. Let us consider the World Trade Organisation talks which comprise the major issue for every single speaker. We are unhappy that the talks have not proceeded in a balanced way and have made this very clear to the Commission. The point was made very clearly last weekend by the Taoiseach to Mr. Barroso in the presence of the farm leaders. The previous week, I attended a meeting in the Berlaymont Hotel and visited a number of Commissioners in their offices and made the point to them that balance is required in the discussion on this matter. It is critical that if there is to be any agreement within Europe, every Commissioner should operate within his or her mandate.
The reason the WTO talks effectively have been removed from the upcoming agenda is that progress has not been made. A date has not even been set for a meeting of the Council of Ministers. Revisions of papers are still awaited and I cannot see those involved honouring the deadline mentioned at the farmers' protest last week. We should not be spooked by this because the reality is that incapacity to make progress is being demonstrated.
The issue raised by the agriculture sector was discussed at length at the Agriculture Council on 14 April, but it is not to be discussed at the Council meeting this week. It is worth reminding ourselves that the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food attended a meeting with her German counterpart yesterday. Deputy Breen and Senator Hanafin touched on the positions of other countries. President Sarkozy has written in very strong terms to the President of the European Commission, Mr. Barroso. Angela Merkel, in her contribution here in Ireland, touched on the issue. More importantly, in her discussions the preceding week with farmers in Germany, she made the case very clear.
The reality is that Irish farming organisations and the food industry are making a very well-argued case regarding the need for balance and transparency. A line has been emphasised frequently by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, the Minister of State, Deputy McGuinness, who has dealt with the international trade side, and me. The week before last, I met the IFA leaders in Brussels and received some documentation from them, after which I spoke to the Commission. The latter is fully aware of our concerns on the matter and Mr. Barnier has made very clear the views of the French, as has President Sarkozy. We reminded the Commission repeatedly of the absolute need to remain within the mandate and not to do anything that would damage Irish and European food production.
The points being made at this meeting are well made, including those of the Chairman. It is not a question of the self-interest of any one sector in our community but of the well-being of the whole of Europe. Europe must be in a position to deal with its own food requirements. There is therefore a certain irony in the approach to this issue.
Intensive discussions are continuing at official level in Geneva. If one were to ask me whether they will resolve the outstanding issues, I would reply it is becoming increasingly unlikely, but this is pure speculation. We know for a fact there are still many technical and practical issues to be resolved before the issue moves to the political stage.
If this debate receives media coverage, as I hope will be the case, we should remind those who watch the proceedings that nothing is agreed in negotiations until everything is agreed. Ireland is not the only country that has concerns about a Commissioner potentially straying from his mandate. It is not a good idea that we should focus entirely on the personality of Mr. Mandelson because the Commission itself will have to take a corporate view. Before the final signing off, there will have to be unanimous agreement within the Council. As matters stand, I do not foresee this happening.
Consider the dignified way in which the farm leadership articulated its concerns and made clear, in the private meetings held with President Barroso in my office in Iveagh House, that it was not just a question of self-interest. This was very helpful. We all should learn a lesson from the extraordinary leadership demonstrated by Mr. Padraig Walshe of the IFA and the leaders in the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association. Mr. Padraig Walshe stated, possibly on 29 January, that it would be overwhelmingly in the interest of Irish agriculture to ratify the treaty. He advised, in spite of all the exigencies, challenges, difficulties and frustrations, that it would be best to vote "Yes". He made one of the most significant contributions in the debate and made the point that if Ireland is to retain its influence and continue to be subject to goodwill in Europe, it should ratify the treaty. There is wisdom in that point. On 13 June, all the challenges, frustrations, opportunities and difficulties will still exist. It does not matter what political flag a Minister will fly after 13 June, the reality is that the ministerial capacity to negotiate any deal on behalf of Ireland would not be improved by a "No" vote.
As the Chairman knows, I worked in the Department of Finance 35 years ago when we became a member state of the EEC and saw at first hand the extraordinary progress we have made because we are at the heart of Europe. At European Council meetings over recent years, I have seen the manner in which member states that are regarded in lesser esteem are treated. The capacity to make progress in Europe depends on one's capacity to build alliances, as Deputy Noel Treacy will know better than most. One's influence comes from the goodwill one has built up. Under successive Administrations dating back to 1973, we have built up a considerable store of goodwill. We are regarded as the small country that gets things done and as being at the heart of the European project. This is why we punch way above our weight in Europe and why we have been able to build alliances and attract considerable investment.
On the question of why Ireland has been so successful, one should read the logical analysis of Mr. Paul Rellis, managing director of Microsoft Ireland and president of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland. One cannot but be influenced by the logic. That is why there have been so much mendacious and perverse discussions about the treaty.
We have made it absolutely clear that Commissioner Mandelson will be required to remain within his mandate in the WTO negotiations. Nothing will be agreed until everything is agreed. The content of the final WTO deal is a long way off. My personal belief, based on political analysis, is that there are mixed feelings in the US about the negotiations. The two contenders in the Democratic Party presidential race have commented on the WTO, which suggests they will not fall automatically into line with it. There are also reservations in other countries such as India. Ireland's views on how the agriculture pillar is being dealt with are shared by the German Chancellor and the French President. The reason for this is that the case we are articulating is a justifiable and logical one. I hope the WTO negotiations will not have a malign impact on how we vote in the referendum on 12 June. On 13 June, the challenges will still be there. Whoever is Minister at the time will have to argue Ireland's case. The best way to argue our case is to strengthen our Ministers' hands.
Deputy Creighton raised the issue of Zimbabwe. The current situation there is outrageous. There have been elections and tallies by non-governmental organisations. We know that ZANU-PF has lost its parliamentary majority. It is incumbent on the international community to resolve the matter. I do not believe Europe should be to the fore in pointing the finger. I strongly believe that African states do not respond well even to the well-minded interventions from European states. Over all the years, there were other than well-minded interventions from Europe in the continent. There is a special moral responsibility on other African states to show leadership in the case of Zimbabwe. Europe should guide and assist other African states in dealing with the situation.
Deputy Treacy asked about Aung San Suu Kyi. She is still a prisoner in her home in Burma.
Regarding the western Balkans, the great prize for those states is to join the EU. This will be helpful in convincing the Serbian leadership that it is in the Serbian people's self-interest to meet the criteria for joining the EU. We must continue to underline the importance of the international criminal tribunal and full co-operation with it. It is one of the important tools Europe has in this area.
Tibet is not on the General Affairs and External Relations Council agenda. I am not sure why. It is having an impact. The debate in Ireland on this issue has been skewed. It is easy to grandstand on an issue such as Tibet. I compliment Deputy Timmins who made the point that such a stance is very dangerous. I was in China the weekend the violence broke out in Tibet. An Irish news outlet asked me for a comment on it. The information to me at the time was that the killings had been carried out mainly by Tibetan demonstrators against Han Chinese and some Muslims. It would be wrong for us to jump up and start making statements.
We must ask at every opportunity for dialogue and respect for human rights. The Dalai Lama himself is simply asking for dialogue. Nothing but good comes out of dialogue and a more understanding position. I do not think finger-wagging from Europe, which does not have the best history in that region, will do anything other than let us feel better about ourselves.
On the Olympics, I have always held the view that politics and sport should be kept apart. Young people who dedicate their lives to getting to the Olympics should not be used as pawns in a political game. As to whether the opening ceremonies should be attended, European countries have different views on that.
