Derek McDowell
Question:19 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the work he has engaged in since January 1998 in the furtherance of his objectives in relation to the Irish aid programme. [4304/98]
Written Answers - Overseas Aid.
I am pleased to advise the House that the work programme related to Ireland's official development assistance, ODA, received a significant boost at the beginning of this year as a result of the allocation by the Government, at my request, of the largest ever budgetary provision for ODA. Expenditure on the programme this year is expected to reach £137 million or 0.32 per cent of GNP. The budget increase will permit not only expansion of the programme but also — and more importantly — qualitative change and improvement. There is a challenge programme of ongoing work related to that process of expansion and improvement. This relates to all elements of our programme including multilateral assistance; bilateral assistance to the priority countries for Irish aid; and other bilateral assistance.
In relation to the multilateral component of our co-operation, the allocation for 1998 is £45.958 million, a 17 per cent increase over the level for last year. Multilateral development issues are regularly discussed at the range of meetings attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, including the General Affairs Council.
As regards international meetings held since the beginning of this year, I draw particular attention to the EU-Rio Group ministerial meeting in Panama from 11 to 12 February 1998. Among the issues discussed at this meeting were sustainable development and the reform of the United Nations. Minister Andrews emphasised, on bahalf of Ireland, that the eradication of absolute poverty on a global scale is a precondition for the achievement of sustainable development and that development co-operation policy must continue to play a vital role in bridging the divide between developed and developing countries.
The Minister expressed our full support for the UN Secretary General's reform programme. He also noted that the decline in development assistance flows has had a negative impact on discussions on development at the UN and pointed out that Ireland has increased its voluntary contributions to the UN agencies in recent years and is committed to continuing its support.
There is also an intensive programme of work related to the negotiation of a successor agreement to the Lomé Convention. The draft mandate for negotiations between the EU and the ACP countries was presented to the Council by the Commission at the end of January. To assist the Commission in preparation of the draft mandate, the General Affairs Council had a broad ranging debate on the shape of future relations between the EU and ACP countries. Ireland will continue to work closely with other member states in the General Affairs Council in the coming months in seeking to finalise the mandate in advance of negotiations with ACP countries which are scheduled to begin in September.
As regards our bilateral assistance, the 1998 allocation for the priority countries programmes is £43 million — 33 per cent more than the level for last year. Ireland is now well on the way to becoming a medium-sized donor to the countries concerned. As befits our changing role, we are increasingly involved in initiatives to reform the overall aid processes in the countries concerned.
A case in point is the development of a coherent sectoral approach to aid allocation. This approach, which is in contrast to a piecemeal project-by-project approach, is believed by many observers to be the most promising innovation in relation to aid procedures for many years. Ireland is playing a leading role, in collaboration with the governments of the countries concerned and other donors, with a view to making a success of this initiative. I plan to visit Uganda next month for consultations on this and other issues.
There are also significant developments in relation to the other components of our bilateral assistance. For example, support for rehabilitation in countries emerging from humanitarian crises has been increased in 1998 in response to continuing needs in countries such as Rwanda and Bosnia-Hercegovina, and to a lesser extent Angola and Somalia. The focus continues to be on addressing basic needs and building institutional and human resources capacity in divided societies in a manner which is inclusive.
New guidelines aimed at strengthening the partnership with non-governmental organisations were introduced in 1997 on a pilot basis. Based on experience with their implementation, revisions are currently taking place in consultation with NGOs with a view to enhancing their effectiveness and consolidating the partnership.
In addition to the human rights and democratisation focus within the individual priority country programmes, there has been a sizable increase in the separate budget heading for support for human rights projects in other countries from £0.868 million in 1997 to £1.25 million this year. This substantial increase will enable us to expand our activities in this area and to undertake specific initiatives related to the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
As I am sure the House will appreciate, my comments today can provide only a flavour of the substantial programme of work related to the Irish Aid programme. I am sure the House will agree, however, that the developments referred to are indicative of substantial progress in relation to our aid policy and programme.
Michael Creed
Question:20 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give an update on the famine and drought crises in West Papua New Guinea; and the steps, if any, he proposes to take either at national or EU level to address this problem. [4323/98]
Emmet Stagg
Question:59 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the funds, if any, the EC Humanitarian Office has provided for relief in West Papua/Irian Jaya; and, if so, if he has satisfied himself that it has the political means to ensure that specific supplies and relief will reach West Papua. [4324/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 59 together.
The entire island of New Guinea, which is shared by Irian Jaya-West Papua and Papua New Guinea, has been severely affected by the El Nino phenomenon. No significant rainfall has occurred on the island since April 1997. Those problems were aggravated in the western part of the island in late 1997 by forest fires. In common with other areas of Indonesia, fires were started by local farmers in Irian Jaya-West Papua to clear land in the expectation that the rains would extinguish them. I understand that the fires have restricted access to many areas and have, in addition, prevented vulnerable people from seeking food in the nearby forests.
UN assessments in late 1997 indicated that at least 500,000 people throughout New Guinea, around 10 per cent of the population, were suffering malnourishment. In response to this situation, the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (UNDHA) issued an emergency appeal for the worst affected areas. The Government responded to this appeal by making an immediate allocation of £50,000 for emergency humanitarian relief to the island of New Guinea. The grant was divided equally between those most in need in Irian Jaya-West Papua and Papua New Guinea.
Since that time, UNDHA has been providing relief supplies, medical assistance and transport throughout the island using light aircraft to distribute supplies to remote areas. The Government of Indonesia has provided air transport for the delivery of food to the main airport in Irian Jaya. Distribution to the worst affected regions, which are among the most inaccessible in the world, is being carried out by UN personnel on the ground. I understand that the operation, which is also financed by the governments of Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Norway, has been going well. Officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs remain in close contact with the officials in UNDHA and receive regular updates on the progress of the project.
As I have made clear, both in my reply to Deputy Connaughton's question on the subject of Irian Jaya-West Papua of 11 December 1997 and to Deputy Spring's written questions on the same topic earlier this week, the Government is open to considering allocating further grants to meet the needs of the most vulnerable and to promote food security throughout the island in the coming months. Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs are in touch with international organisations (including the International Committee of the Red Cross) and with NGOs operating on the ground.
With regard to actions taken by the European Union, I understand that the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) has provided a grant of 1.5 million ECU for emergency assistance to Irian Jaya. One million ECU is being channelled through the Belgian NGO, Medecins Sans Frontiers and 500,000 ECU through the International Committee of the Red Cross. The grant is being used for emergency water and sanitation supplies and for distribution of food. I have every confidence that ECHO's implementing partners will be able to carry out their emergency interventions as planned. The Deputy may also wish to be aware that ECHO, in common with other international donors, routinely carry out monitoring and evaluation missions to countries which benefit from EU humanitarian aid.