Vol. 457 No. 2
59 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the current position regarding the proposal to transfer food aid from DG VIII to ECHO; if his attention has been drawn to the strong NGO reaction to such a proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14880/95]
Two draft EC Council Regulations in relation, respectively, to food aid and humanitarian aid are currently at an early stage of consideration.
A draft Regulation of Food Aid proposes the restructuring and updating of all the legal instruments of food aid policy and management. A draft Regulation on Humanitarian Aid seeks to provide a legal basis for ECHO (the European Community Humanitarian Office) and proposes the establishment of clear objectives and general criteria for humanitarian aid provided by the European Union.
My Department maintains regular and close contact with Irish NGOs. Earlier this year, the Minister of State at my Department with responsibility for Development Co-operation issues met with Dochas, the umbrella group for Irish development NGOs, to hear their views regarding the role of ECHO. Senior officials of my Department recently met with Mr. Gomez Reino, director of ECHO, and conveyed to him Ireland's general views in this area.
I can assure the Deputy that Ireland is fully participating in current discussions in respect of both these draft Regulations and will continue to carefully consider the views and concerns of the NGOs in this area.
