Ireland and France vow to stand firm in WTO talks

FRANCE and Ireland are to work closely to ensure that the European Commission will not make any further concessions on agriculture in the world trade talks.

President Jacques Chirac referred to the long-standing cooperation between France and Ireland on agriculture when he met Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan at the International Agricultural Show in Paris over the weekend.

Mr Chirac, a former agriculture minister, and Ms Coughlan agreed that this level of co-operation would continue and that both countries would work closely in relation to World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks. Mr Chirac said France would show “rock-