Commission has been 'reined in' on trade offers, says Taoiseach

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern disclosed yesterday that European Commission negotiators have been pulled back from exceeding the agriculture mandate they had been given by member states for the world trade talks.

Irish farm leaders have criticised EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson on the conditional concessions he has already made on farm products ahead of the World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in Hong Kong next month, and claimed he had gone beyond his mandate.

But the Taoiseach, at a commemoration for former Agriculture Minister and War of Independence leader Sean Moylan in Kiskeam, Co Cork, said that situation had been pulled back.