Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the slow pace of EPA negotiations and the unlikelihood of a new arrangement being in place when current arrangements run out on 1 January 2008, and in order to avoid any unnecessary disruption of ACP trade with the EU, particularly in dynamic sectors such as fruit and vegetable exports, the Government will commit itself to supporting the transitional extension of the Cotonou Agreement trade provisions, in order to allow the completion of EPA negotiations, which are being conducted in good faith by ACP negotiators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8104/07]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The mandate for the negotiation of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) comes from the legally-binding Cotonou Agreement, the central objective of which is that of "reducing and eventually eradicating poverty, consistent with the objectives of sustainable development and the gradual integration of the ACP countries into the world economy".

In line with Article 37.1 of the Cotonou Agreement, negotiations began in September 2002 and the agreements are required to enter into force by 1 January 2008. For the purposes of EPA negotiations, the ACP states are organised into six regional groupings.

Negotiations are ongoing and four of the six ACP regions have either agreed or publicly affirmed the aim to conclude the negotiations within the given timeframe. In this context, I remain hopeful that the deadline envisaged under the Cotonou Agreement will be met and that the question of an extension will not arise. The Government will continue to follow the negotiations closely, and insist that they be conducted at all times in a manner sensitive to the development needs of the ACP states and their poverty reduction efforts.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of the treaty adopted by the UN (details supplied); if a copy of the treaty is available; if Ireland is supportive of the proposal; the timescale of the adaption of the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8119/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 December 2006. I have arranged for a copy of the Convention to be forwarded to the Deputy. It can also be accessed on the internet at http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/.

Ireland, along with our EU partners, was an active and supportive participant in the negotiations leading up to the agreement of the Convention. Ireland supported its adoption in December by the General Assembly. The draft Convention outlines the general obligations of States in relation to the rights of persons with disabilities. It aims to ensure that persons with disabilities are given an equal opportunity to enjoy their human rights and specifies that discrimination on the grounds of disability is impermissible.

The Convention states that it will open for signature on 30 March 2007 and that States may subsequently ratify the Convention. The Convention will enter into force on the thirtieth day after the deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession by States.

At present, my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who has lead responsibility for equality issues for persons with disabilities, is examining the Convention before seeking Government approval for Ireland to sign the Convention. I am hopeful that Ireland will be in a position to do so at an early date. Thereafter the steps necessary to allow for ratification, and the timescale for these steps, will be primarily for the Tánaiste and his Department to consider.