Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the UK paper on the economic partnership agreements being negotiated by the European Commission with 77 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries; if, in accordance with the concern expressed by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Government will join with the UK and other like-minded Governments with a view to changing the EU position on economic partnership agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13463/05]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the possible economic effects of the new economic partnership agreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries with particular regard to the negotiation process on the least developed economies; the Governments views on such agreements and their effectiveness in terms of furthering the EU's commitment to the eradication of poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13078/05]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will elaborate on the role of the European Union in supporting the growth and development of economies in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13079/05]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the possible effects of Ireland's aid policies under the EU's new economic partnership agreements with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. [13080/05]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the possible positive changes which the terms of the new economic partnership agreements with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries particularly regarding free trade of intellectual property rights, may have on Irish and EU aid packages involving medications and vaccinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13081/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 272 to 275, inclusive, together.

Under EU regulations, the European Commission conducts the negotiations on economic partnership agreements between the European Union and six regional groupings of African, Caribbean and Pacific states on behalf of the member states. The Commission provides the Council with regular updates on the progress of the negotiations. Ireland is following the developments in the economic partnership agreements negotiations process. While Ireland, like the other member states, does not participate in the ongoing economic partnership agreements negotiations, we are satisfied 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 African, Caribbean and Pacific states.

The economic partnership agreements, 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 states and the European Union.

Economic partnership agreements are primarily instruments for development that will foster the smooth and gradual integration of African, Caribbean and Pacific states into the world economy, with due regard for their own political choices and their own development priorities, thereby promoting their sustainable development and contributing to poverty eradication in the African, Caribbean and Pacific 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 addresses the particular concern of Ireland and other member states that development and poverty reduction should be the principal objectives of the economic partnership agreements.

I have read with interest the recent UK position paper setting out views on how the commitment to put development at the heart of the economic partnership agreements negotiations can best be delivered. The paper was designed to promote an open discussion on economic partnership agreements issues particularly as the substantive negotiations get under way.

Article 46 of the Cotonou Agreement states that the parties recognise the need to ensure an adequate and effective level of protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial property rights. Under economic partnership agreements the arrangements for intellectual property rights will conform with the provisions of the World Trade Organisation's agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights.