PLATFORM:THE DOHA round of World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations was launched in 2001 to help poor countries to export more and to boost the global economy.

Talks have foundered repeatedly over the years, with major disagreements over the levels of cuts in farm aid by rich countries that would be required for developing countries to open their markets.

Ireland's long-time support for the Third World through our missionary work and financial aid would have us on the side of reaching such an agreement.

It is, of course, in Ireland's interest, and that of Europe as a whole, to negotiate the WTO agreement so as to take the agricultural sector into account.

International negotiations can often be seen by the protagonists as a superior type of chess game. There's give and take; particular items get far more attention than they warrant, others are sacrificed for victories elsewhere.

I am not a farmer but, like most urban Irish, I am only a couple of generations removed from the soil and, like most Irish people, I have a deep appreciation of farmers. The "Land War" and the desire to own one's own patch are buried deep in our national psyche.

I also love our countryside - not just the tourist highlights, but the patchwork landscape of fields and hedges, their colours and variety, which give me a lot of pleasure. I am fully aware of just how much this landscape is shaped and cared for by farmers.

However, the Doha round of the WTO negotiations cover a much wider range of issues that affect Ireland, even though the Irish media's coverage of these negotiations appears to concentrate solely on the challenge facing the agricultural community.

EU Commissioner Peter Mandelson, whose stance is worrying the Irish Farmers Association, is trying to conclude a deal that will benefit Europe's broader interests.

So let's look closer at the employment figures to see how Ireland can gain overall from a negotiated deal.

Figures published by the Central Statistics Office for 2006 show construction accounting for 8 per cent of employment, agriculture 11 per cent, industry 20 per cent and services 61 per cent. Thus, from the employment viewpoint, an agreement that takes the broader outlook is of great importance.

Minister for Finance Micheál Martin this week urged the EU not to agree a new trade deal before a new US president is elected. Mandelson however is concerned that if no ministerial meeting is held soon, the WTO talks would have to be delayed until 2010 because a new US president would need time to address the issues.

Ireland needs a deal early rather than later, but a good deal is more important than a rushed deal. As consumers feel the impact of higher agricultural and manufacturing prices, liberalisation for a wide range of products and services is needed more than ever.

The potential growth in our services exports to both our economy and employment figures needs to be strengthened.

Figures published recently by the CSO on the balance of international payments in 2007 showed that the strong growth in exports of services, as against merchandise goods, in recent years had resulted in the service sector contribution to total exports increasing to 43 per cent in 2006.

The value of Irish service exports was €64 billion, a significant increase of 17 per cent on the 2006 figure.

As an example of what the WTO deal is trying to include, China is resisting efforts to reach a negotiated settlement over the regulation of its financial data market. The dispute hinges on the legal standing of working documents drafted in the run-up to China's accession to the WTO.

Opening markets such as China will give opportunities to the Irish financial service sector that are difficult to achieve without an agreement.

The stable framework of the WTO with its dispute settlement mechanism can make sure that all countries respect the rules. A predictable and legally certain regulatory environment is indispensable for companies in Ireland and abroad. Protectionism is likely to cause recession in Europe. Global governance ensured by the WTO is too precious to be put at risk.

It is in Ireland's interest, and that of Europe as a whole, to negotiate a Doha round of the WTO agreement that takes all interests into account.

Feargal Quinn is an independent member of Seanad Éireann and Chairman of EuroCommerce