Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

As much as possible, that is what we try to do. However, in the context of the WTO negotiations, particular member states have their own strategic national interests. The European market is probably the largest recipient of African trade — a matter about which people do not often sing from the rooftops — and is probably the most open to such trade. As already stated, myriad responses are required and not least among them are those which relate to overseas development aid. The EU has led the way in that it has indicated that the entire Union will reach the 0.7% target by 2015. Ireland has led the charge at that level in that we are going to achieve the target of 0.7% by 2012.

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