Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together.

I attended the second EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon on 8 December, accompanied by the Minister of State with responsibility for overseas development, Deputy Michael Kitt. The overall aim of the summit was to strengthen the partnership with Africa and to mark a new phase in EU-Africa relations. I think it broadly achieved that aim. The leaders adopted a joint EU-Africa strategy and action plan which commits Europe and Africa to developing closer political dialogue and to work together to address common global challenges, including climate change, energy and migration.

The Minister of State, who has special responsibility for overseas aid, addressed the summit during the Sunday session under the theme of trade, infrastructure and development. The Minister of State referred to the millennium development goals as the framework of Ireland's overseas aid programme and the excellent progress we have made in striving towards the millennium development goals target by 2012, and he encouraged other summit participants to increase their efforts in this regard. He outlined the key priorities of Ireland's aid programme including health, education and the fight against HIV and AIDS, and how Africa is central to it. The Minister stressed the need for coherence between aid, trade, environmental, agricultural, migration and security policies and he also emphasised the importance of human rights and good governance in the overall promotion of African development. During the summit, I met briefly with President Mbeki of South Africa and discussed my forthcoming visit there next January.

I travelled to Lisbon to attend the signing ceremony of the reform treaty on 13 December. I was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, Deputy Dick Roche. The Reform Treaty will provide the Union with the means to meet the challenges facing it in a fast changing world. It will allow Europe to do more for our people in the years ahead. Ireland has been a beneficiary of EU integration and the Union is crucial to our future well-being. That is why a more effective EU is in Ireland's best interests. It is why the ratification of the reform treaty will be a priority for Ireland.

I attended the European Council on 14 December in Brussels, accompanied by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs. As I will make a statement to the House on the Council later today, I will now give only a summary account of its proceedings. The European Council welcomed the signature of the reform treaty on 13 December, thereby signalling that the Union will have a stable institutional framework for the foreseeable future. The European Council also agreed to establish a reflection group which will help the Union in identifying and examining the challenges and opportunities it will face some 15 to 20 years from now. The Council also adopted a declaration on globalisation.

Otherwise, discussions at the European Council focused on three areas — freedom, security and justice; economic, social and environmental issues; and external relations, including the issue of Kosovo. While at the European Council in Brussels, I had a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown. Our discussions focused on Northern Ireland, where we agreed on the need to continue to work closely together, as well as on current EU issues.

On official visits abroad in 2008, I will attend all the European Councils during the year. I propose, along with appropriate Ministers, to visit South Africa and Tanzania from 14 to 18 January 2008. The primary focus will be to visit Irish Aid programmes and supported projects operating in these countries and to see at first hand how Ireland's official aid programme is helping to combat disease, hunger and poverty in African communities. In South Africa, I will also lead a trade mission of up to 50 Irish companies to further develop business links with Ireland.

In addition, I propose to attend the fifth summit of the Heads of State and Government of Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union in Lima, Peru on 16 May 2008. I also propose to attend the EU-Asia Summit which will be held in Beijing, China in October 2008.

See this speech in context