EU AGRICULTURE must not be sacrificed for the sake of achieving a World Trade Organisation (WTO) deal, and EU negotiators must "stiffen their backs in negotiations", Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan has insisted.
During a Dáil debate on the WTO, there was repeated, stringent criticism of EU commissioner and negotiator Peter Mandelson.
Fine Gael spokesman Michael Creed said many of those involved in negotiations were finishing their terms of office.
"The people in question may be rushing to have this under their belts for inclusion in their CVs," he claimed.
However the Minister, who has criticised the EU's negotiating stance, said that "it is time for realism to prevail at the negotiations with regard to what is attainable and acceptable in respect of agriculture. We must achieve genuine balance in any final agreement. Crucially, the European agrifood sector must not be sacrificed for the sake of a deal."
An alliance had been established "with a group of over 14 EU member states and there is good support for the view that the legitimate interests of the EU agrifood sector must be strongly defended."
Mr Creed said a WTO "agreement will be good for us, but it has to be the right one".
"It has to be borne in mind that whereas Mr Mandelson might well turn off the tap of European production, it will not be that easy to restart the engine and turn it on again."
Labour spokesman Seán Sherlock said he was "reassured by the fact that there is a very strong Irish position, one that seeks to protect the national interest".
Minister of State Micheal Kitt said it would "make no sense if Ireland, while being generous in its contributions to development co-operation and placing a sharp focus on poverty reduction, failed to follow this strategy to its logical conclusion.
"This means striving to ensure global trade is an equally effective tool in the fight against poverty in developing countries."
Michael D'Arcy (FG, Wexford) said the "WTO talks offer made by Commissioner Mandelson represents the greatest threat to European and Irish agriculture since our accession to the EU".
Paul Connaughton (FG, Galway East) said the Minister was a "very small player. When this decision will be finally made, she will not even be a member of the audience - it will be that far removed from us."
Martin Mansergh (FF, Tipperary South) said "Ireland is not as small a player as has been made out. We are at the core of an important alliance, including France and Poland."
He warned that there was an underestimation in Britain of the importance of agriculture.
"They have a high population of nearly 60 million and are unable to feed themselves. They should not think that an outcome that seriously damages the Irish agriculture industry will not have a direct impact on the security of food supply in Britain," Mr Mansergh added.
Johnny Brady (FF, Meath East) believed that "if Peter Mandelson gets away with his plan, our beef industry will be dead and so will rural Ireland".
Minister of State for Trade John McGuinness pointed out that "in our discussions with the French minister, Michel Barnier, I saw a strong relationship with senior ministers from big countries within Europe, an understanding on their side of the Irish position and a willingness to engage with us in the protection, not only of Irish agriculture, but of business generally in Ireland".
