Bertie Ahern
Question:13 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance and contribution to the United Nations world summit on Social Development in Copenhagen. [5438/95]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Copenhagen Summit.
Mary Harney
Question:14 Miss Harney asked the asked the Taoiseach, in relation to the UN summit on world poverty in Copenhagen, the implications, if any, for domestic Government policy of the programme for action adopted at that conference. [
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.
I attended the United Nations World Summit on Social Development in Copenhagen on 12 March 1995. The purpose of the summit was to agree on a co-ordinated approach to three key issues for the developed and developing world — poverty, unemployment and social exclusion. This was the first time that a majority of the world's heads of state or government have come together for this purpose.
We agreed at the summit on a declaration and programme of action which I have had laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in its existing, unconsolidated form, with a copy of my address to the summit. The consolidated text will be presented as soon as it becomes available.
The declaration and programme of Action are designed to spell out the political commitment which the member countries of the United Nations have made to the goal of promoting social development and social integration. The terms of the declaration are necessarily general in character. They comprise ten commitments covering the need to develop an environment to enable people to achieve social development, the eradication of absolute poverty, the promotion of full employment, the protection of human rights, the achievement of full equality and equity between women and men, the pursuit of equitable access to the highest attainable standards of social services, the acceleration of the development of Africa and the least developed countries, the inclusion of social development goals in structural adjustment programmes, the allocation of appropriate resources to social development and the improvement of international co-operation for social development, especially through the United Nations.
These commitments, and the supporting principles and suggested actions are, to a very considerable degree, already reflected in public policy in Ireland. I stressed, in my address to the summit, our commitment to achieving the UN target of 0.7 per cent of GNP in overseas development aid and the progress we are making towards that objective. I also stressed our support for the "20/20" formula for investing in social development, whereby 20 per cent of developed countries' ODA and 20 per cent of developing countries' national budgets would be allocated to basic social programmes. In addition, I expressed strong support for bringing a fresh mind to debt issues, including debt cancellation, and for taking action on multilateral debt, including through the possible sale of IMF gold reserves. There was some progress on the debt issue at the summit.
At national level, the objectives set out in the declaration are already central to this Government's programme and the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. The declaration and programme require each member country to produce, by 1996, a statement of strategy in support of the achievement of the goals of the summit. I will be taking steps to have such a statement prepared for Ireland. It will, of course, be for individual Ministers and Departments to pursue the relevant aspects of the declaration. In particular, my colleague the Minister for Social Welfare has indicated his intention to bring forward proposals to ensure that our commitments in relation to the elimination of absolute poverty and the reduction in inequalities is reflected in the ongoing development of public policy.
It will be my intention to lay before the House, in due course, the statement of measures which will be compiled to indicate Ireland's compliance with the terms of the declaration.
As well as participating in the main business of the summit, I availed of the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with the Presidents of Uganda and Latvia, the Prime Ministers of Spain, Denmark, Iceland and Luxembourg and the President of the European Commission. I also met representatives of Irish NGOs attending the summit.
Did the Government support the cancellation of the debt of some of the poorest countries? I understand from newspaper reports that some of these issues went to formal votes. The Taoiseach reiterated the UN target of 0.7 per cent of GNP in ODA — a point I made at the World Bank several times. In the last few years Ireland has worked hard to find the extra funds with little benefit. Last year, the previous year and again this year the Government put substantial funds into ODA. Has the Taoiseach any idea when Ireland will reach its target of 0.7 per cent?
Ireland supports the cancellation of debt. To be fair, we do not have any debt to cancel so we are not exactly in a position of making a noble gesture. We have always been urging others to cancel the debt owed to them by the Third World. I would not make too much of our position on this issue. As far as the target of 0.7 per cent is concerned we have made exemplary progress in the last three years. I do not think any country in Europe, with the possible exception of Denmark, has done as much to increase overseas development aid as we have done in the last three years. Instead of saying what I except we will be doing in the year 2005, 2010, or some other similarly meaningless statement, it is more appropriate to say I hope that we will be able to further increase our provision next year.
I agree with the Taoiseach that it is always difficult, based on budgetary constraints, to achieve the target. As I was involved with the NGOs, the World Bank and some of the funding agencies I suggest we are quite good at paying over our resources, in so far as we can, but other countries are very good at using those resources for various contracts which we have not achieved. I was involved in the process but did not complete it. I ask the Taoiseach, or the relevant person with responsibility for ODA in the Department of Foreign Affairs, to follow up that matter because many of the other countries who speak about their contribution to ODA are the beneficiaries of very substantial contracts. This is an issue worth following up. Following the summit how will global poverty be effectively tackled? Is there a clear line of attack by the large countries or are there continuous disagreements at the World Bank? Like the Copenhagen summit is there still much disagreement, a lot of talking by the big boys and little action?
Before the Taoiseach replies I advise the House that we shall be obliged to proceed to deal with Priority Questions at 3.30 p.m. I might have given earlier notice but I wish to bring in Deputy Harney also, whose Question No. 14 refers.
One of the good characteristics of Irish aid is that it is not driven to an overwhelming extent by Irish commercial interests. Much of the so called overseas development aid of other countries is just an extended version of their own trade and exports policy. Substantial contracts are given to Irish companies in the context of some of our overseas development assistance. This is done in a way consistent with the overall objectives of the assistance.
How does the Taoiseach think global poverty can be tackled?
The Deputy is aware of how UN conferences work. For example, the former US President, Mr. Bush, would not sign a declaration on. I think biodiversity but it went ahead, and when President Clinton came into office he signed it. These declarations become part of the official thinking in the world and while they do not yield results the following day or year they gradually become absorbed into public policy.
I raised two issues with President Clinton — Northern Ireland and the need for the United States to maintain its financial contributions to the UN and UN peacekeeping. It is very important that the largest democracy in the world should continue to support the multilateral system for dealing with disputes and should not retreat into any form of economic or social isolation.
In the budget the Government announced a commitment to introduce tax concessions for people who give donations to Third World charities. Will the Government consider extending that provision to cover charities dealing with poverty in Ireland?
That is a matter for the Minister for Finance, and one would question whether tax relief should be given for all charities.
Has the Government considered the proposal by Trócaire that funding should be provided through ODA to commemorate the anniversary of the Famine?
A sub-committee chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Avril Doyle, has been set up to consider all matters relating to the commemoration of the Famine and I will convey Deputy Kitt's suggestion——
Trócaire's suggestion.
——to her.