Vol. 357 No. 1
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps the Government is taking to promote the implementation of the United Nations' Motion on Concerted International Action for the Elimination of Apartheid, of which Ireland was a co-sponsor, passed in the December 1984 session of the UN General Assembly.
497.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps the Government is taking to comply with the terms of section 8 (a) of the UN Motion on Concerted International Action for the Elimination of Apartheid which called on all states, organisations and institutions to increase humanitarian, legal, educational and other assistance to the victims of apartheid.
498.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps the Government is taking to comply with the terms of section 9 of the UN Resolution on Concerted International Action for the Elimination of Apartheid which calls on all governments and organisations to take appropriate action for the cessation of all academic, scientific and sports relations that would support the apartheid regime in South Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 496, 497 and 498 together. Ireland promotes the implementation of the elements of the resolution on Concerted International Action against Apartheid by supporting relevant policies and actions in international for a such as the United Nations, its specialised agencies and other international bodies. Ireland also implements domestically policies which are in accord with the provisions of the resolution.
The Government have increased Ireland's pledges of assistance to United Nations funds which assist the victims of apartheid from £42,000 in 1984 to £50,000 in 1985. They also granted aid to a nongovernmental organisation for a project in South Africa which will assist the education of black school children, who are discriminated against by the South African education system. Such assistance to non-governmental organisations in South Africa will continue to be a feature of the bilateral aid programme. The Government also participate in and contribute to the work of the Southern Africa Development Coordination Conference, one of whose aims is to reduce the dependence of Southern African States on South Africa.
There are no cultural, scientific or academic agreements between Ireland and South Africa. The Government discourage sports contacts between Ireland and South Africa by persuasion, by withholding funds from organisations which engage in such contacts and by their preparedness to refuse entry to representative sports teams from South Africa.
