Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 7

Written Answers. - European Council Common Position.

John O'Leary

Question:

26 Mr. O'Leary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the Government will use its influence as EU President to ensure full support for each of the amendments made by the European Parliament on 21 November 1996, to the Council's common position on regulations relating to refugees. [23984/96]

Chris Flood

Question:

29 Mr. Flood asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the Government will use its influence as EU President to ensure full support for each of the amendments made by the European Parliament on 21 November 1996 to the Council's common position on the regulation of actions related to AIDS in the developing world; and whether the Government will use its influence as EU President to ensure that the current budget allocation of 45 MECU for 1997 to 1999 mentioned in the Council's common position is appropriately adjusted, in view of the fact that nearly 20 million persons are infected with the HIV virus and that this total is expected to double by the year 2000. [23982/96]

Chris Flood

Question:

42 Mr. Flood asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the Government will use its influence as EU President to ensure full support for each of the amendments made by the European Parliament on 21 November 1996, to the Council's common position on environmental actions in developing countries. [23983/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 29 and 42 together.

The Council agreed common positions in respect of regulations on the fight against AIDS-HIV in developing countries; environmental operations in developing countries as well as a regulation on assistance to refugees in developing countries in Asia and Latin America at its meeting of 28 May this year. These common positions took full account of the amendments proposed by the European Parliament at its First Reading of each draft regulation. As the Parliament only completed its Second Reading of these regulations on 21 November, it now seems unlikely that amendments made by the Parliament will be forwarded to the Council for consideration before the end of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The amendments proposed by Parliament will be taken into account by Ireland when these regulations come before the Council for discussion.

With regard to the allocation of 45 million ECU allocated under the draft regulation on the fight against AIDS-HIV, this is only one of a number of budget lines which can be used to finance programmes in this area. The range of EU financed development activities in the social sectors, particularly in health and education, as well as national indicative programmes under the European Development Fund also include provisions in respect of AIDS-HIV.