Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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895. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation given the commitments to strengthening the functioning of democratic institutions in Africa and to policy coherence for Development, as a principle of the Lisbon treaty, if she will explain why European Union trade agreements are being stringent regarding deadlines for ratification; her views on claims that this can be seen to be unhelpful for the parliamentary ratification process in African countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12955/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the EU and its Member States and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States combine both trade and development provisions. The mandate for their negotiation derives from the Cotonou Agreement of 2000, between the EU and the ACP states. Their central objective is the reduction and eventual eradication of poverty, consistent with the objectives of sustainable development, and the gradual integration of the ACP countries into the world economy. These Agreements aim to promote regional integration and integration into the world economy, and to enhance predictability and secure legal certainty. Trade Agreements are implemented in a gradual manner with favourable trade preferences given to our African partners. They are negotiated on a regional basis and are coupled with targeted co-operation and assistance to help ACP countries implement them. They are expected to have a positive impact on our ACP partner countries.

The timing of ratifications is, of course, linked to the legal requirements of relevant signatories and the need to maintain a World Trade Organisation-compatible trading regime. Since the conclusion of three EPAs with African countries in 2014, the EU has been working with the 27 African countries involved to achieve ratification by 1 October 2016. Ireland has played its part in this process. Ireland signed the EU-West Africa Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in December 2014 and this Agreement was approved by the Dáil on 26th November 2015. The signature, subject to ratification, of the EU-Southern African Development Community EPA and the EU-East African Community EPA was authorised by Government on 17th May 2016.

Ireland is actively engaging in ongoing consultations on timing of implementation to ensure that these important trade and development Agreements can achieve their potential to support the development priorities and needs of these African countries. We believe that the implementation of these agreements will promote economic growth and assist in the overall strengthening of democratic institutions and help these less developed countries take their place in the global trading community.