Coughlan clashes with Mandelson

AGRICULTURE Minister Mary Coughlan clashed with EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson when they met to discuss the current WTO talks.

The minister said there was nothing for Ireland, for its farmers, industry or services in the budding WTO deal following their meeting in Brussels last night.

Following tense discussions the commission agreed to thrash out the technical issues, especially those relating to Irish beef, at further meetings.

Ms Coughlan said afterwards: “I had the frankest discussion I ever had with a commissioner in my life to impress on him the views of the agriculture industry.”

Mr Mandelson said there was no question of abandoning European or Irish farming in the course of the negotiations but pointed out that industrial goods and services now dominate Ireland’s economy.

“Ireland benefits from an open trading system and a global economy. It is how a country with 4 million people can dominate 4% of global services market and become a leading global exporter,’’ he said.

“Ireland’s economy is dominated by industrial goods and services and Ireland would benefit from a successful and balanced Doha outcome along with the rest of Europe.”

But Ms Coughlan said the farmers should vote for the Lisbon treaty and said it was unfortunate that the two had become intertwined.

She believed there was just a 50% chance of a further WTO ministerial meeting in May to hammer out a deal.