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415 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 416[Mr. Eamon Ryan.]priority aid countries of the EPAs; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [6024/05]191. Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister forForeign Affairs the details of any EPA impactassessments on Irish priority aid countries, that is,the level of unemployment expected, the natureof industries to be adversely affected and thecapacity of these countries to adjust to EU competitionwithin the transition period; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [6025/05]192. Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister forForeign Affairs the communications, meetingsand other representations his Department hashad with the Department of Enterprise, Tradeand Employment on the liberalisation of marketsunder the proposed EPAs; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [6026/05]193. Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister forForeign Affairs the concerns his Department hasraised with the Department of Enterprise, Tradeand Employment over the opening up of prioritycountry markets to EU competition; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [6027/05]194. Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister forForeign Affairs the areas of priority countrymarkets his Department has suggested should beexcluded from liberalisation, in EU and interdepartmentalmeetings; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [6028/05]195. Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister forForeign Affairs his views on the regional groupingsrequired under EPAs; his views on the factthat Zambia is forced by this process to decidebetween SADC and COMESA, two regionalgroupings in which it has invested years ofenergy; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [6029/05]196. Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister forForeign Affairs his views on criticisms that, withthe EPAs, the EU is bringing about an effectiveredrawing of the economic map of Africa; and ifhe will make a statement on the matter.[6030/05]Minister of State at the Department of ForeignAffairs (Mr. C. Lenihan): I propose to take QuestionNos. 188 to 196, inclusive, together.The legally binding Cotonou Agreementbetween the African, Caribbean and Pacific,ACP, states and the European Union providesfor the negotiation of economic partnershipagreements, EPAs, between the parties. Sincetrade is a European Community competence, theEuropean Commission negotiates the EPAsbetween the EU and six regional groupings ofACP states on behalf of the member states. TheCommission provides member states with regularupdates on the progress of the negotiations. TheEPAs are to enter into force by 1 January 2008.The EPAs are first and foremost instrumentsfor development that will foster the smooth andgradual integration of ACP states into the worldeconomy with due regard for their politicalchoices and development priorities, thereby promotingtheir sustainable development and contributingto poverty eradication in the ACP countries.They combine trade and wider developmentissues in a unified framework while takingaccount of the specific economic, social andenvironmental circumstances of each regionalgroup and its component states. By enlargingACP markets through regional integration and bymaking regulatory frameworks in these countriesmore transparent, EPAs can create an environmentconducive to the private sector and thusfunction as a vehicle for long-term economicdevelopment.According to Article 37(7) of the CotonouAgreement, the negotiations on the EPAs:shall take account of the level of developmentand the socio-economic impact of trademeasures on ACP countries, and their capacityto adapt and adjust their economies to the liberalisationprocess. Negotiations will thereforebe as flexible as possible in establishing theduration of a sufficient transitional period, thefinal product coverage, taking into account sensitivesectors, and the degree of asymmetry interms of timetable for tariff dismantlement,while remaining in conformity with WTO rulesthen prevailing.While Ireland, like the other member states, doesnot participate in the ongoing EPA negotiations,we are generally satisfied that the Commission isdischarging its mandate in accordance with theseprovisions of the Cotonou Agreement. It is clearfrom the most recent EU-ACP joint report ofOctober last on the state of play of regional EPAnegotiations that the process with the six regionsis conducted with considerable concern for itsimpact on the economies of the ACP countries.As in all trade negotiations, the EPA negotiationhas brought to light differences of approachbetween the parties in a number of areas. It is tobe hoped that as the talks progress, these divergencescan be resolved in accordance with theprinciples and objectives underlying the negotiations.However, it is not helpful for the successof the EPA project at this stage to suggest takingaction at the WTO for a continuation beyond2008 of the preferential access of ACP countriesto EU markets.All the programme countries in Ireland’s bilateralaid programme — Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mozambique,Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Timor-Leste — are ACP states. Our underlyingapproach in those countries is complementary tothat of the EPAs in that we are sensitive to theneed to help build the economic architecture inthese least developed countries so that they willbe able to avail of an improving internationaltrading environment. To that end, Ireland worksboth with its partner governments and with otherdonor countries to ensure a real focus on economicdevelopment and employment generation
417 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 418and on helping to equip our African partners topursue access for their goods and progressivelythe means to avail of that access.Within Ireland, the Department of Enterprise,Trade and Employment has primary responsibilityfor trade policy. An officer of that Departmentrepresents Ireland at meetings of the 133committee. The committee normally meets oncea month at the level of full members. An officerof the Department of Foreign Affairs also attendsmeetings of the committee on a regular basis.Given the importance for Ireland of trade andtrade relations with other countries, includingthose which are programme countries forIreland’s development co-operation programme,there is close co-operation with the Departmentof Enterprise, Trade and Employment and otherDepartments, including the Department of Agricultureand Food, in preparing for meetings ofthe 133 committee and on questions relating totrade generally, including the EPA negotiations.Swimming Pool Projects.197. Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Arts,Sport and Tourism if there is money available orif he will make money available to refurbish theGus Healy swimming pool in Cork; if he has hadany representation on this project from Cork CityCouncil; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [5620/05]Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr.O’Donoghue): Under the local authority swimmingpools programme, which is administered bythe Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism,grant aid is provided towards the capital costs ofnew pools or the refurbishment of existing pools.The closing date for receipt of applications underthe current programme was 31 July 2000. Noapplication was made in respect of the Gus Healyswimming pool in Douglas before that date.The programme’s priority to support the proposalson hand. New proposals for swimmingpools are not being considered at this time. TheDepartment is conducting an expenditure reviewof the swimming pools programme, which isexamining, among other things, how the programmehas worked to date, the benefits whichhave accrued to areas where pools have beenbuilt under the existing programme and whatamendments, if any, are required to ensure theeffective and efficient delivery of the programme.The review is expected to be completed by themiddle of the year. The question of re-openingthe programme can be considered when thereview has been completed.In a letter dated 16 December 2004, Cork CityCouncil requested a meeting with me to discussgrant aid towards the refurbishment of the publicswimming pool in Douglas. Due to a heavy scheduleof commitments, I am not in a position tomeet the delegation at this time. However, therequest will be kept on file and I will be in touchwith the council if an opportunity arises for sucha meeting in the future.198. Mr. Fleming asked the Minister for Arts,Sport and Tourism when funding will be grantedfor a project (details supplied) in CountyLaois. [5931/05]Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr.O’Donoghue): The proposal to refurbish Portarlingtonswimming pool is one of a number ofswimming pool projects within the local authorityswimming pools programme being considered bythe Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. Thefour stages of the programme are preliminaryreport, contract document, tender approval andconstruction. The Portarlington project is at contractdocument stage. The question of this projectmoving to the next stage in the programme isbeing considered in the Department in the contextof the funding available in the Department’smulti-annual capital envelope for the local authorityswimming pools programme.199. Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts,Sport and Tourism the number of public orprivate public partnership swimming pools here;and if he will make a statement on the matter.[5945/05]200. Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts,Sport and Tourism the number of public orprivate public partnership swimming pools here;the towns in Ireland which have such a facility;and if he will make a statement on the matter.[5946/05]201. Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts,Sport and Tourism his views on the need for theDepartment to publish guidelines for publicprivate partnership provision of swimming pools;if, pending the publication of these guidelines, itis permissible for a local authority to proceedwith plans for a public private partnership providedswimming pool in its administrative area;and if he will make a statement on the matter.[5947/05]Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr.O’Donoghue): I propose to take Questions Nos.199 to 201, inclusive, together.Under the local authority swimming poolsprogramme, local authorities can seek grantassistance in respect of swimming pool projectsdeveloped by them or in conjunction with communityor private sector interests. An expenditurereview of the local authority swimming poolsprogramme is under way in the Department ofArts, Sport and Tourism and is due to be completedby the middle of the year. As part of thereview, all data on the number and location ofswimming pools promoted by local authoritiesthroughout the country, some of which date backto the 1960s, is being updated. The Department’sexisting records are not complete because theyrelate to projects which were grant aided,whereas local authorities have always been ableto construct swimming pools without reference tothe Department. Local authorities have not been
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