Vol. 482 No. 6
87 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the financial value, if any, of bilateral aid programmes between the Irish Government and the Palestinian Legislative Council; the value of aid programmes between the European Union and the Palestinian Legislative Council; and if he will make a statement on the way in which he proposes to foster further aid programmes in this regard at national and EU level. [18841/97]
Ireland's bilateral assistance programme to the Occupied Territories of the West Bank and Gaza attempts to ensure the delivery of basic services to the Palestinian people as the Israeli civil authority is replaced by institutions under the Palestinian authority. Assistance is also channelled towards building the capacity of the Palestinian authority institutions themselves.
Total assistance to the Occupied Territories in 1997 will be in the region of £1 million. This support is channelled in part through the Ministries of Health, Education and Energy. Support is also provided through various non-governmental organisations as well as through the various United Nations organisations working on the ground in the Occupied Territories. All aid programmes emerge from dialogue and discussion with the Palestinian authorities.
The focus of Irish aid programmes in the Occupied Territories is on the basic needs of the Palestinian people. Discussions with the Palestinian authorities have not in the past led to direct Irish aid support for the Palestinian Legislative Council, which is the parliamentary body of the Palestianian authority.
The instrument for co-operation between the European Union and the Palestinian authority is the MEDA Regulation, which was adopted under Ireland's Presidency of the European Union in 1996. Funding for indicative projects under national programmes is available via the MED Committee which, in late 1996, approved a sum of 3 million ECU to assist with the establishment of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Further funds are made available for indicative projects for the Palestinian authority as they arise and a number of indicative projects are under discussions at present.
The Irish aid programme in the Occupied Territories is kept under review. The needs of the Palestian people remain a priority, and will be a central consideration in future bilateral aid programmes for the Occupied Territories and in dialogue with the European Commission and partners in Europe.
