Gay Mitchell
Question:97 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received a response to the Government's letter to the President of the European Commission regarding AIDS. [14375/01]
Written Answers. - AIDS Crisis.
The Taoiseach has been to the forefront of efforts to raise international awareness of the scale of the human tragedy which the epidemic of HIV-AIDS is causing in Africa. He has used every opportunity at international level to draw attention to the crisis and to press for greater action to combat it.
At EU level, the Taoiseach wrote to the President of the European Commission, Mr. Romano Prodi, on 26 January 2001. In his letter the Taoiseach pressed for a revitalised EU response to the AIDS crisis in developing countries, particularly in Africa. He called for the EU to adopt a more active international role in this area, given the close relationship between the EU and Africa, the fact that the EU and its member states are collectively the most important aid donor to Africa, and the extensive resources devoted to HIV-AIDS in our development aid programmes.
The Taoiseach also raised the issue of access to medicines by poor countries. As a first step towards co-ordinating a more effective EU response to the disease, the Taoiseach suggested that the issue should be put on the agenda of key international meetings dealing with development issues, including the EU-Africa summit, and the EU-SADC ministerial meeting.
Commission President Prodi replied to the Taoiseach's letter saying that he shared the Taoiseach's concern at the grave tragedy Africa is facing as a result of HIV-AIDS. He outlined the steps which the European Commission has taken to support efforts to combat HIV-AIDS, in particular the financial assistance which the Commission is devoting to the fight against the disease. President Prodi said that it would be useful for the European Council to discuss the EU's response to the crisis, and he looked forward to discussions with developing country partners at the EU Africa Summit, where AIDS was one of the major agenda points. Mr. Prodi also took the opportunity to commend the main policies and strategies of the HIV-AIDS strategy of the Ireland Aid programme.
The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, subsequently raised the issues identified by the Taoiseach at the Development Council. In September 2000, the Commission issued a communication on an accelerated programme of action to fight HIV-AIDS, TB and malaria. An action plan to implement this programme has since been issued. Ireland has participated actively in discussions with the Commission and the other member states on the fight against HIV-AIDS.