56 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the input, if any, his Department has had into the preparation of the Irish position for the World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle, having regard to the serious implications of issues being addressed for the developing countries; his views on the necessity for core labour standards and food security in developing countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25500/99]

While the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has primary responsibility for co-ordinating Ireland's preparations for participation in the third ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation, which is being held in Seattle this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs has been closely involved in these preparations.

The General Affairs Council at its meeting in Luxembourg on 11 October 1999 reached agreement on conclusions for the EU's approach to the conference in Seattle and these conclusions were formally adopted on 26 October 1999. The conclusions propose a broad-based comprehensive round of trade negotiations, to be concluded within a period of three years. Such a comprehensive round offers the opportunity of achieving a broad range of objectives of benefit to all WTO members in terms of further liberalisation and expansion of trade, increased transparency and predictability and equal opportunities for all WTO members to obtain results on the basis of balanced negotiations. Ireland fully supports this approach.