Taoiseach Reaffirms Irish position on WTO
Speaking with Padraig Walshe, President of the IFA, this morning, the Taoiseach Brian Cowen reaffirmed Ireland’s position regarding the WTO talks.
The Taoiseach said he did not believe the conditions currently existed in the Doha Round to justify calling a WTO ministerial meeting in Geneva. The set of proposals so far on the table would require agriculture to bear a disproportionate burden while delivering little in other sectors and are therefore unacceptable to the Government. Any WTO agreement must not undermine our agricultural interests.
Mr. Cowen reaffirmed that unanimity is required for EU approval of the outcome of the current WTO negotiations and therefore Ireland can veto EU agreement to an unacceptable deal. The Lisbon Treaty would not change these arrangements or the existence of this veto.
The Taoiseach assured the IFA that he was prepared to use the veto if a deal that is unacceptable to Ireland is put to a vote.
ENDS
3rd June 2008