Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of meetings of the EU 133 Committee which have discussed issues relating to the ACP-EU Economic Partnership agreements since negotiations were launched on 27 September 2002; the number of those meetings a member of the staff of Irish Aid attended; the grade of those Irish Aid officials who attended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24683/06]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Article 133 Committee is the principal body consulted in the formulation and development of the Common Commercial Policy of the European Union. Issues relating to the ACP-EU Economic Partnership Agreements are regularly considered at Article 133 Committee meetings and have featured formally on the agenda on twenty-five occasions since September 2002.

Meetings of the Article 133 Committee are serviced by officials from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Department of Foreign Affairs is represented at Full Members meetings of the Article 133 Committee by an official from EU Division.

Irish Aid inputs into the co-ordination process between the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Agriculture and Food to prepare for meetings of the Article 133 Committee, both through attendance at inter-Departmental meetings to establish Ireland's position on the agenda items and through regular ongoing contact with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

In addition to this co-ordination process, Irish Aid staff and staff of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment attend regular meetings of a Joint Expert Group on Trade and Development chaired by the European Commission, where the Economic Partnership Agreements are frequently discussed.