Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Ireland will be part of the EU like-minded group on the basis of the UK position expressing concerns in relation to economic partnership agreements; if Ireland will outline EPA concerns in any international fora; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12199/05]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the contact his Department has had with the Department of Foreign Affairs, particularly Development Co-operation Ireland, in relation to economic partnership agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12193/05]

Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 150 together.

The economic partnership agreements, EPAs, are an integral part of the legally binding Cotonou agreement. They are first and foremost instruments to assist from a trade and development aspect the smooth and gradual integration of Asia, Caribbean and Pacific, ACP, states into the world economy. This will be done with due regard for their own political choices and their own development priorities.

EPAs 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. As trade is a Community competence, it is the European Commission which conducts the negotiations on the EPAs between the EU and six regional groupings of ACP states on behalf of member states. The Commission provides the Council with updates on the progress of the negotiations.

Recently, in the context of the further progression of EPA negotiations, Commissioner Mandleson has indicated that he is putting the EPA process under continuing review, with a new review mechanism to ensure that at every stage in the negotiations that the development dimension is put first.

I have read with interest the recent position paper that sets out the UK view on how best the commitment to put development at the heart of the EPA negotiations can be best delivered. This is designed to promote an open discussion on EPA issues particularly as the substantive negotiations get under way. I agree with the basic thrust of an approach to the EPAs which ensures that the needs and concerns of developing countries are taken adequately into consideration during the substantive phase of these negotiations.

Ireland is actively following the developments in the EPA negotiations process and will continue to do so. More recently this matter was considered at the Article 133 committee and further discussions will follow. Ireland will insist that the Commission discharges its mandate in accordance with the provisions of the Cotonou agreement and in a manner which is sensitive to the particular concerns of ACP states.

There is close co-operation between all relevant Departments, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, on questions relating to trade and development policy matters generally, including the EPA negotiations.