Jim O'Keeffe
Question:81 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount payable to the United Nations population fund in each of the past three years; and the amount proposed for the year 2001. [8296/01]
Written Answers. - United Nations Population Fund.
Ireland Aid began contributing to the UN population fund in 1993. This year's contribution of IR£1 million has now been paid. Contributions of IR£600,000, IR£400,000 and IR£369,000 were made in 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively.
In December 2000, Ireland completed a three year term on the executive board of UNFPA. Through its membership of the board, Ireland was able to participate directly in detailed donor discussions on UNFPA's programmes and be in a position to closely monitor UNFPA's performance. We assumed our position on foot of the regular rotation of donor representatives.
Ireland has now entered into a multi-annual funding arrangement with UNFPA as well as with the UN development programme, UNICEF, the UN High Commission for Refugees and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Such an arrangement serves to confer a degree of financial predictability, thus enabling the agencies to plan future programmes and strategies. This facilitates effective aid management and helps the process of reform in the agencies concerned.
In the context of the multi-annual funding arrangement, Ireland has given non-binding indicative commitments to UNFPA of IR£1.45 million and IR£2 million for 2002 and 2003, respectively.