Written Answers. - Departmental Committees.
Michael Joe Cosgrave
Question:
74
Mr. Cosgrave
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the number of task forces or special committees set up in his Department since 1997; the date they were established; the terms of reference of each; if they have reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24484/01]
The Department of Foreign Affairs has established one special committee since 1997, details of which are set out below. While the Department has not established any task forces since 1997, it expects to be able to make an announcement on the establishment of the proposed task force on policy regarding emigrants in the very near future.
The terms of reference for the Ireland Aid programme review were approved by the Government on 13 December 2000 and the inaugural meeting of the review committee was held in February 2001. The terms of reference are as follows: to examine and assess the future role of Ireland Aid in responding to emergency humanitarian crises and in helping to advance objectives of poverty alleviation, sustainable development and the integration into the world economy of developing countries, particularly least developed countries and, at a multilateral level, through Ireland's role in the developing co-operation programmes and policies of the EU, the UN and relevant multilateral institutions generally; to consider ways of enhancing and sustaining public ownership of the Irish Government programme; to review the role of the NCDE in development education and look at media strategies related to public ownership and awareness; to consider and recommend strategic priority policy areas, and geographical range, for future Ireland Aid participation, including in the areas of social and economic development, agriculture and rural development and the horizontal issues of human rights and good governance, gender equality, peace building and conflict prevention, environment, sustainable development generally, HIV-AIDS, and the involvement of civil society; to consider and assess the future role of Ireland Aid in helping to advance the integration of least developed countries into the world economy, including trade, investment, debt relief and the promotion of knowledge and capacity issues generally; to consider and assess the future role of Ireland Aid in advancing agreed international development goals and objectives, including issues of coherence, co-operation and complementarity in the context of wider Irish foreign policy concerns and in Ireland's relations with partner governments in developed and developing countries; to consider the policies, programmes and management arrangements of countries that have already achieved the target of 0.7% of GNP as development co-operation assistance; to consider and make recommendations on future management and structures, including staffing requirements, of Ireland Aid and its agencies such as APSO, bearing in mind the importance of democratic accountability and public ownership issues, its work with other Irish organisations involved in international development co-operation, general policy and programme orientations on the basis that development co-operation is an integral part of Ireland's international relations and an important instrument of foreign policy; and to issue a report on these matters within four months of the Government decision approving these terms of reference.
The review is to be conducted by a committee to be appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in consultation with the Taoiseach and other Ministers and chaired by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy O'Donnell. The committee will comprise individuals with appropriate expertise, experience and objectivity. Specifically, the committee will include individuals with (a) expertise and experience related to national development programmes, for example, in the fields of economic and social analysis, public administration and management; (b) practical knowledge of conditions in developing countries; and (c) familiarity with the intergovernmental aspects of aid management. The overall objective being to facilitate innovative approaches and ensure coherence across a range of Government policy as it relates to ODA.
The review committee is to work in close co-operation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and other Departments as necessary, including in the context of the existing interdepartmental committee – IDC – on development co-operation. The review committee is to, inter alia, have regard to the following reports – the OECD peer review of Ireland's aid policy and programme, commissioned studies by Fitzpatrick Associates of possible policy initiatives in the context of an expanding budget, the SMI related review of the management arrangements for the Irish Aid programme which was overseen by a steering committee representative of the Departments of Finance and Foreign Affairs, the Irish aid advisory committee and OECD secretariat. A dedicated secretariat to report to the chair of the review committee will be provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The review will involve,inter alia, and as necessary, consultations with the Irish Aid Advisory Committee, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, independent experts in the field of development co-operation, APSO, the NCDE, organisations in receipt of funding from Ireland Aid, representatives of developing countries, EU member states and the Commission, international organisations and other organisations or persons the review committee deems may be of assistance in its work. It is expected that the committee will report in the coming weeks.
