WTO Debate in Leinster House Friday

by seedot - art. 133 group Mon Jun 23, 2003 13:06

Earlier this year Attac requested documents under the FOI about the preparations for meetings of the Article 133 committee. These meetings were preparing European stances on liberalising transport, refuse and other public services (i.e. Dublin Bus privatisation, bin charges etc.). The response was that for 31 of the 32 requests the information could not be supplied as it was 'commerically sensitive'. So we now get 3 hrs in the Dail (on a Friday so the numbers will of course be huge) for a few official statements. Perhaps SF, Greens, SP etc. could ask how government policy on key areas can be secret due to it's commercial sensitivity? What happened to the European openness bill which was gutted in committee? And what is the negotiating stance on public transport - is this behind Brennans attack on Dublin Bus?

by Mary Kinane - Comhlamh Trade Group Tue Jun 24, 2003 14:43 mkisok at hotmail dot com Comhlamh, 10 Camden Street 086-609 7532

– a call to fill the galleries!
Dail debate on the upcoming WTO talks in Mexico on Friday June 27th as a result of the Trade Justice Ireland lobbying campaign on May 14th. Find out the Irish government's position regarding the next round of WTO talks by attending the Dail and watching the debate from the Public Galleries.
Following Dáil lobbying on May 14th by various Irish groups and individuals campaigning on trade issues under the banner of Trade Justice Ireland, the Dáil has decided to hold a debate on the WTO talks taking place in Cancun, Mexico. The debate is scheduled for Friday June 27th shortly after 1.00pm (though this time may move, so check the www.comhlamh.org website for confirmation).

The WTO, or World Trade Organisation, is the international body through which the rules of international trade are negotiated and enforced. The mandate of the WTO is to negotiate agreements that will increasingly liberalise the world economy. In other worlds its goal is to transform the world into one gigantic free trade zone. This includes not just the free trade of goods, but also services - in fact virtually every aspect of human economic activity is either currently liberalised, or planned for liberalisation under the WTO. And so of course, the agreements negotiated at the WTO will have profound effects for developing countries. Trade could play a significant role in reducing poverty but not while international trade rules are so biased against the poor. For years poor countries have been pressured to open their markets to competition. Meanwhile rich countries continue to subsidise and protect industries where developing countries are best able to compete, such as agriculture. The historical evidence shows that no county has developed through indiscriminate liberalisation. Flexibility to use a range of policy instruments has been the key to growth with equity.

The Trade Justice Movement in Ireland calls on the government to heed the following four key demands to make trade work for the poor: no new powers to the WTO; an end to the dumping which destroys livelihoods; fair and transparent trade-policy making; and trade justice not free trade.

This is now your opportunity to find out what the Irish government’s position is in relation to the next round of WTO talks. To attend the Dail and watch the debate from the Public Gallery you need to get a TD or Senator to 'sign you in' to Leinster House. To speak to your TD, phone 01-6183333 and ask to speak to whichever TD you wish. So let’s fill the galleries and show our Irish elected representatives that our concerns need to be brought to the WTO when they are representing Ireland in Mexico.