Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the latest developments in negotiations surrounding EPAs under the Cotonou Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7743/05]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the industries in Mozambique which he views as being able to sustain opening up to competition from South Africa; his views on the compatibility of this policy with the poverty reduction strategy consistent with Cotonou objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7742/05]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level and nature of consultations his Department has had with priority country governments and business community and civil society regarding their EPA related concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7740/05]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the concerns of priority aid countries were reflected in Ireland's internal EU position on EPAs; if they are catered for in the EU position on EPAs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7741/05]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on reciprocal economic partnership agreements; his views on concerns that EPAs are another example of the dilution of African sovereignty regarding its economic future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7739/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 88, 91, 114, 116 and 141 together.

Under European Union regulations, it is the European Commission which conducts the negotiations on economic partnership agreements, EPAs, between the EU and six regional groupings of ACP states on behalf of the member states. The Commission provides the Council with regular updates on the progress of the negotiations. Ireland is actively following the developments in the EPA negotiations process. While Ireland, like the other member states, does not participate in the ongoing EPA negotiations, we are satisfied that the Commission is discharging its mandate in accordance with the provisions of the Cotonou Agreement and in a manner which is sensitive to the particular concerns of the ACP states.

The EPAs, which are to enter into force by 1 January 2008, are an integral element of the legally binding Cotonou Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific, ACP, states and the European Union, EU. EPAs are first and foremost instruments for development that will foster the smooth and gradual integration of ACP states into the world economy, with due regard for their political choices and their development priorities, thereby promoting their sustainable development and contributing to poverty eradication in the ACP countries. They combine trade and wider development issues in a unified framework, while taking account of the specific economic, social and environmental circumstances of each regional group and its component states.

I am satisfied that this approach does not constitute a dilution of African sovereignty regarding its economic future and, furthermore, that it addresses the particular concern of Ireland that development and poverty reduction should be the principle objectives of the EPAs.

All the programme countries in Ireland's bilateral aid programme — Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Timor Leste — are ACP states. In each of these countries, Ireland works in close co-operation with its partner government, other donors, the private sector and civil society to ensure coherence in our approach across a range of sectors. Among the issues discussed are the impact of EU policies, including EPAs, and the wider question of integration of LDCs into the international trading system. This approach will help build the economic infrastructure in these least developed countries, LDCs, which will lead to employment generation and ultimately to long-term sustainable development.

With regard to Mozambique, South Africa is its main foreign investor and strong trade links have developed between the two countries in recent years. It would not be appropriate for me to express a view on which specific industries in Mozambique, or indeed any other third country, could sustain competition from South Africa.