Vol. 428 No. 1
28 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that resources will be made available from the increased overseas development aid budget to support democracy-building and electoral education programmes in the newly formed and emerging democracies, particularly South Africa, Mozambique and Malawi.
I welcome the opportunity to inform the House that I have decided to include for the first time support for democracy and human rights as an integral part of Ireland's Official Development Co-operation Programme.
The measures to be taken include project and technical assistance support for electoral activities and participation in electoral observer missions. In addition, Ireland will in 1993 contribute £30,000 to the UN Trust Fund for Electoral Assistance.
As the Deputy will be aware, the first Irish Observer Mission under this programme is on its way to Lesotho where it will join delegations from other countries to monitor the elections which will take place there on 27 March. It is appropriate that Ireland be present at these elections, which will mark the long-awaited return to civilian government in Lesotho, which is one of the priority countries for Irish aid.
Assistance will be provided for the referendum processes in Eritrea and Malawi later this year and Irish observer missions will be present for both the referendums. A request from the United Nations to provide polling station officials for the elections in Cambodia in May is now being processed by my Department.
It is my intention that Ireland should play its part in assisting South Africa in the transition from apartheid to a nonracial democracy. My Department is currently examining how this might be done. Similarly, in the case or Mozambique, I intend that Ireland will help that country in the progress to multi-party democracy.
I very much welcome the renewed commitment to overseas development aid and the extension of the aid into this type of democracy-building and electoral education programmes.
Could the Minister give an assurance that this will not be a once-off effort this year as other requests have been received and a number of elections and referenda are due to be held? Will the Minister ensure that there is continued support to these emerging democracies? Otherwise they are in danger of collapse.
I can give an ongoing commitment on behalf of the Government to the emerging democracies. I am well aware of the Deputy's involvement and interest in this area over many years. Irish support for human rights and the democratic process is a corollary to our bilateral aid programme. It is extremely important and I welcome the immediate support offered by the parties in this House. We should insist on developing this in the coming years.
Mr. Lenihan rose.
I am sorry, Deputy Lenihan. I would like to call you but I cannot under Standing Orders.
The Deputy will have to wait for the new committee.
