Vol. 461 No. 1
23 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has read UNICEF's report entitled State of the World's Children, 1996; the Government's response to its contents; whether his Department and the Government propose any new domestic and international initiatives to ensure that the necessary resources are made available in support of the children of the developing world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1977/96]
In welcoming UNICEF's 50th anniverary report, The State of the World's Children 1996, I acknowledge the outstanding work carried out by UNICEF since its establishment in 1946. Ireland's appreciation of UNICEF's achievements has been reflected in the level of our voluntary contribution to the organisation over many years. It is the Government's intention to increase this contribution to £1.05 million in 1996 as compared to £950,000 in 1995.
UNICEF's report documents in harrowing detail the disproportionate impact of warfare, poverty and disease on children and the extent to which their rights are all too often ignored in zones of conflict, including by the widespread use of child soldiers. The Government fully shares and endorses UNICEF's objectives and programmes to foster and enhance the rights and dignity of all children and to ensure that these rights are fully respected.
Irish aid programmes attach particular importance to the rights of children, especially in the areas of health and education. Irish aid is also engaged in rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes in countries which have recently emerged from prolonged civil conflicts. Two such countries, Ethiopa and Uganda, have now been designated as new priority countries for Irish aid programmes. In Uganda, Irish aid is co-financing a project which seeks to assist children traumatised by warfare.
Ireland fully supports proposals for an international ban on the production, stockpiling, transfer and use of anti-personnel landmines. Ireland is also contributing to UN mine-clearing operations in former zones of conflict. At the bilateral level, Irish aid has supported a project in Mozambique under which demobilised soldiers were trained to clear the land surrounding schools of landmines. Wars and situations of violent conflict over recent years have significantly added to the huge numbers of displaced people and refugees around the world, at least half of whom are children. Ireland seeks to play its part in addressing the needs of refugees and displaced people through our annual voluntary contribution to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, to which £1.1 million is being given in 1996.
UNICEF's report notes that one of the most disturbing traumas for a child is separation from parents. For that reason, Irish aid funding is provided, both through NGOs and through the UN, for family reunification activities in Rwanda. The Government also recognises the need for the prevention and prosecution of infringements of human rights. Irish aid funding has been provided for UN human rights monitors and the international tribunal to investigate the genocide in Rwanda.
Children represent the future and it is essential that they be enabled to fulfil their potential and contribute to the peaceful progress of their societies. Ireland will continue to do its utmost in seeking to ensure that children can grow to maturity free from violence and exploitation.
I thank the Tánaiste for his response. Can he be specific as to the objectives of this excellent UNICEF report, The State of the World's Children 1996, on which I congratulate the United Nation's Secretary General and all concerned? The UN receives much criticism but this is an excellent report which it would be right and proper for the governments of the world to follow.
Does the Tánaiste agree that it is essential to build on an ethic against violence directed at children, drafting children as combatants, planting anti-personnel landmines and holding children as hostages?
They are the specific recommendations and, as I said in my response, we agree with those recommendations. We should take every opportunity at every international forum to highlight those recommendations and ensure steps are taken so that children are not victimised as they have been in the past.
Would the Tánaiste arrange for the introduction of legislation here or at EU level outlawing the purchase of goods manufactured through child labour? The carpet industry has received much publicity recently but it is not alone. There have been allegations about clothing from Morocco and elsewhere being sold in some of the major stores. I do not know the truth, accuracy or otherwise of these allegations but they exist and require answers. A monitoring body should be established to examine these issues within the Department of Enterprise and Employment or within the Tánaiste's own Department. There should be a single agency to monitor operations and products in the marketplace which may be manufactured through child labour. We want to stamp it out.
It is obvious that we want to stamp out child labour in any part of the world where it exists and it would be irresponsible of the Government to say otherwise. It is important that in our own economic and trade policies we take steps to ensure we are not allowing situations to develop whereby we encourage or facilitate child labour in any part of the world. The Department of Trade and Tourism, which has primary responsibility for trade, is examining this area and assessing what measures, legislative and otherwise, are necessary.
I welcome this report and congratulate UNICEF on its 50th anniversary. Two recent television programmes highlighted the situation of children. The first related to children injured by landmines in Cambodia and the other dealt with the Chinese orphanages. Has any action been taken at either EU or UN level on those issues?
I have dealt with both these questions in the House. On 7 December I dealt with the landmines question. In regard to the latter, previous Irish Governments have taken a lead in relation to convincing our European Union colleagues and others that we want a total ban on landmines wherever they are produced. When there was a question of whether we should introduce legislation, I noted that Ireland had no armaments industry and that the example of Belgium, which was formerly a substantial producer of landmines, was not applicable to the position here. Ireland's position on the landmines question was fully appreciated in the international community. I repeat, it is the Government's priority to continue to work in a realistic and focused way in the multilateral fora open to us for effective international action against landmines and as a priority for the objective of a total ban on antipersonnel landmines.
Will the Tánaiste say what action was decided on by the General Affairs Council following the horrendous Chinese orphanages television programme?
A number of options were considered, for example, a troika visit, a démarche against the Chinese Government and co-operation with the various agencies. After a good deal of discussion and consideration it was felt there would be a troika visit to China at official level and, more importantly, to see where we could co-operate to improve conditions to give health and welfare support to the orphanages. Discussion will take place with the Chinese authorities, whose co-operation we need if we are to overcome the appalling situation as shown on our television screens. I would be hopeful from the initiative taken by our Swedish colleagues at the General Affairs Council of our being in a position to offer assistance and to co-operate with the authorities in health care, education and other fields.
I wish to ask two final questions. Will the Tánaiste join with me in congratulating the concerned citizens who joined together to promote assistance to the Chinese authorities in relation to the problem of the orphanages and the numbers of children they have to cope with? Secondly, will he take action at national level in negotiations with the Chinese Embassy to seek their support for voluntary bodies here and will he introduce amending legislation to remove whatever barriers exist to the adoption of some of these children by Irish parents who would wish to do so?
Grave concern has been expressed and effective action is being proposed by various citizens here. That is very much to be welcomed and encouraged. I have been in contact with the Chinese Ambassador in regard to the orphanages and other aspects of the problem. The question of adoption is a matter for the Minister for Justice and I am sure she is examining it.
One of the great concerns of the UNICEF report is child prostitution worldwide but, in particular, in the Philippines where there is a tourist trade in child prostitution. This is appalling. What action can be taken? I urge the Tánaiste to use whatever influence he has, at national or EU level, to bring about changes in order to save children in the countries concerned from this appalling trade
I agree with the Deputy that there is an appalling situation in this respect in many countries. It is a problem on which the Minister of State, Deputy Gay Mitchell, has had discussions with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. I had discussions as late as this morning with the organiser of one of our NGOs in regard to the appalling situation in Calcutta where we have funded a programme in recent years and will continue to do so. Everything has to be done through international fora. We will raise that matter, in the manner it has been raised by the Deputy, and we will do everything we can in that respect.
