Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

251 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the objectives of the proposed country aid programme for East Timor; the strategy it is proposed to pursue; if he will detail the component parts of the country programme; and if he will ensure that there will be a focus on health, education, agriculture and gender issues in the programme. [2173/01]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The Ireland Aid programme for East Timor is currently centred upon two main priority areas which remain of fundamental importance, namely, to support rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the areas of shelter, basic education and the re-establishment of the agriculture sector, and to support the development of democratic institutions with a focus on the justice sector.

Within this remit, the Government has contributed a total of £1,897,000 to East and West Timor since September 1999. During 1999, a total of £650,000 in humanitarian assistance was provided. In 2000, a further £1,247,000 was granted. In addition to supporting the relevant UN and World Bank trust funds for East Timor, this aid is also supporting the work of Irish NGOs in the field. This current year, the Government is committed to providing a further £2 million in bilateral support for East Timor. Further increases are envisaged as part of the process of working towards a full bilateral development assistance programme. In a practical way, these efforts reflect the path Ireland has taken in supporting meaningful democratic change for the benefit of the people of East Timor.

While East Timor is currently working towards national elections and the formal declaration of independence later this year, it is clear that the country will be in a state of transition on the political, economic and social levels for the foreseeable future. At the same time, it must be recognised that the situation in the country is moving into a new phase of self-government which will, because of the dearth of infrastructure, require ongoing outside assistance to create the desired capacities.

The Ireland Aid programme in East Timor is thus going to continue to be implemented in a context of national transition. This is, in a number of key areas, not so much a transition but, more fundamentally, a nation building exercise. The country's colonial legacy has deprived it of an indigenous administrative capacity which means that several initial steps will be required before the traditional form of country programme can be fully implemented. A key challenge for Ireland Aid and other donors will be to ensure that any expansion of our programmes in East Timor is reflected in a growth in those local capacities needed to make them happen.

Ireland Aid is therefore taking the necessary preparatory steps towards that goal. A programme officer for Ireland Aid was appointed last year and is working in Dili where an office is being established. In support of this appointment, an Ireland Aid mission visited Dili and the Oecussi enclave in late November. The mission had a series of meetings with key members of the transitional administration and cabinet, including in the local administration, health, agriculture, education, gender affairs and human rights areas. Taking account of the continued lack of basic administrative structures and the uneven development across key sectors which was evident at that time, an incremental and phased approach is now being taken. This is intended to help ensure that any new bilateral country programme can come to reflect sectoral needs and be implemented by Ireland Aid with lasting effect and in a co-ordinated manner.

Initially, Ireland Aid support will continue to be given to our existing priority areas as well as to the forthcoming electoral process, civic education and the building of civil society. The continuing need to address the very basic needs on the ground will also be addressed through the implementation of quick impact programmes. We will maintain our working partnership with the World Bank and UN trust funds which are continuing to give assistance to the health, education, agriculture, community, social and economic sectors while at the same time seeking to improve the rate of programme delivery. In addressing current needs, Ireland Aid will build on its cumulative working experience to formalise a full bilateral assistance programme for East Timor within the next two years which will include more substantially district and sector based elements.

Question No. 252 answered with Question No. 104.

Question No. 253 answered with Question No. 91.

Question No. 254 answered with Question No. 111.