Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 October 2004
56 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has satisfied herself with the conclusions reached in August 2004 by the WTO negotiations; her views on the effects they will have on agriculture here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24492/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe agreement referred to represents a satisfactory outcome for Ireland and for the European Union in general. Ireland's key objectives have been met in that the agreement protects the benefits to Ireland of the recent reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy and does not require further reform of that policy.
The agreement is a framework for the remainder of the negotiations and consequently does not contain detailed commitments. These will be decided as part of the negotiation process over the next year or so. In the absence of detailed commitments, it is not possible to indicate what the full effects will be for Irish agriculture.
