Jim O'Keeffe
Question:82 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals, if any, he will make to the United Nations regarding the protection of the poor within Structural Adjustment Programmes in the Third World.
Written Answers. - Structural Adjustment Programmes.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:83 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of Ireland's approach regarding EC debt relief to the highly indebted countries in Southern Africa afflicted with food shortages.
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together.
I am aware of the problems arising from the heavy burden of debt carried by many Third World countries. This is a major issue for the world community and needs to be tackled at global level. The role which the Government can play is to support the efforts of the main agencies through which this problem is addressed, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Within the European Community, we have also given our support to measures under STABEX, the Commodity Fund set up under the Lomé Conventions, to write-off debts of the poorest ACP countries, several of which are affected by food shortages.
I am conscious that structural adjustment programmes often entail severe hardship for developing countries. This is especially so when such programmes coincide with natural disasters like the recent severe drought in Southern Africa. Ireland's bilateral aid programme which is concentrated on sub-saharan Africa is tackling some of the basic needs of these countries such as health and education. These are areas where some of the adverse effects of structural adjustment programmes can be felt most acutely.
Through its membership of international financial institutions, Ireland has consistently argued that the poorest sections of society must be protected from the harsh economic and social impact of adjustment programmes.