Gov has run away from serious questions in run up to world trade talks

national | anti-capitalism | press release

Wednesday July 09, 2003 15:40

by Richi Brennan

Labour Party Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Deputy Michael D. Higgins has lashed the government, for its “disgraceful way of preparing for a conference as serious as the World Trade Organization talks in Cancun this September.”

Deputy Higgins claimed that the Dail has had “little opportunity of discussing the different approaches of various Departments and the issues which will lie at the heart of the consultations in Cancun.

“I ask the Minister of State with responsibility for Overseas Development, Deputy Kitt, if the Government position of Ireland going to Cancun has been proofed against the commitment made in relation to the World Millennium Development Goals?

“Where does Ireland stand in relation to establishing a hierarchy of responsibility in the World Millennium Goals? Is poverty reduction the major aim? Where is the commitment to needs-based Development strategies, to gender equality, sustainable development, fair trade and institutional adjustment.

The current unfair trade structures cost the Developing World $134 Billion a year-more than twice what it receives in Aid. In fact World Aid in 2000 was 30% less than it was in 1990.

“In relation to debt, $128 million per day is transferred from south to north on the debt side. At the same time, if the debt payments could be reduced for Africa and 1% added to the combined education and health budgets, it would save the lives of 11,000 children daily. This is the reality which Cancun is refusing to face.

“Where is there evidence in the Government's preparation of the commitment to the elimination of world poverty as a goal? Let us remember the aim to which the saints of the world signed up in Johannesburg, namely, reducing world poverty to a mere 900 million people by 2015.

“Why is the Government asking the developing world to accept additional powers for the World Trade Organisation? Why should its powers be extended into services? Why should the Government representing Ireland and through the European Union sign up to a demand that, for example, Brazilians must agree to sell their land to foreign companies?

“When did the Government seek a mandate from the House to grant the four new powers being sought by the World Trade Organisation? It did not do so, and has no mandate. Its representatives will go to Cancun armed only with this gibberish that passes as the neo-liberal model of economics. The Government representatives can sail off to Cancun with this deluded economics in one hand and a tequila in the other.

“My hope is that a fair trade regime and development issues emerge from Cancun. I also hope the Government members come home humbled and that they take out their textbooks and begin reading about humanity rather than repeating gibberish from discredited elites in the same way they repeated the gibberish from a discredited and unrepresentative elite that brought us to war.”

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Comments (4 of 4)

Is anybody even a little bit surprised?

by David

Wed Jul 09, 2003 18:18

didn't think so

Irish Govt. Interests

by Gaillimhed

Wed Jul 09, 2003 18:40

Although our small nation really does have little say in such matters (WTO, US Hegemony etc,), it can have escaped nobodys notice that our government have no intention of swimmimg against the tide in any shape or form, In fact they are up to their necks in US -style privatisation and de-democratisation of our countrys internal 'and' external affairs. It has been said that we are too small to speak up, have too much to lose, and that bertie and co were bullied by the Big power brokers, but this is not why ireland is becoming a tiny cog in the global machine, it is because our small minded leaders have chosen it for us, New big business friends and the feel of playing with the big boys...Bertie and co. love it. Fair trade, democracy, human rights, public ownership of national assets,: No fuckin' way'. No1, No1, No1, thats who theyre looking after, (not even doing that well) Irish Government couldnt give a fuck, they got their script from their US investor buddies and thats the way theyre gonna play the game.

Actually the Irish Govt. position is worse

by seedot

Thu Jul 10, 2003 12:08

Ireland has been a major advocate within the EU for privatisation and liberalisation. This was recognised by the LOTIS group (a pro GATS lobby group). In their February 2001 meeting they commended Ireland for going against the EU trend and supporting the Price Waterhouse proposals on privatisation:

"The meeting with the EU Ambassador, however, had been disappointing, with no support even in private. Within the EU, there had been support for PwC’s efforts only from the UK, France and Ireland. "

The full minutes are linked below - other minutes are available at

http://www.gatswatch.org/LOTIS/LOTISapp1.html

Irish Govt position Cont'd

Thu Jul 10, 2003 18:11

In addition our wee nation has produced a few of the big players in globalisation, eg Peter D. Sutherland, chairman Goldman Sachs, member of Bilderberg group steering committee, Trilateral Commission etc, Ooh, just did a google Check this out:
http://www.theglobalist.com/DBWeb/AuthorBiography.aspx?AuthorId=363

Anyway, up to their necks.

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Gov has run away from serious questions in run up to world trade talks

Comments (4 of 4)