Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Dec 2002

Vol. 559 No. 1

Written Answers. - Ireland Aid Programme.

Eoin Ryan

Question:

207 Mr. Eoin Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government remains committed to the programme of action agreed at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994; if efforts to alter the language and main objective of the programme will be resisted by the Government in the run up to its review in 2004; if he envisages the Government playing a crucial role in upholding the aims and objectives of the programme of action during the Irish Presidency of the EU in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25473/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

In 1994 the UN General Assembly endorsed the programme of action which had been adopted by the Cairo International Conference on Population and Development. The programme of action established an agreed international framework for tackling such key issues as maternal health, infant mortality and reproductive health care and services. It established a firm basis for the work of the United Nations in relation to population activities and reproductive health. The United Nations population fund uses the principles and objectives of the programme of action as the mandate for its operations.

In 1999 the United Nations General Assembly reviewed the implementation of the Cairo programme of action and adopted a set of actions for its further implementation. Its implementation is monitored and assessed at the national, regional and international levels by the Commission on Population and Development, a subsidiary body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Ireland is a member of the Commission for the years 2002 to 2005.

Discussions on the timing, format and content of a possible review by the UN in 2004 of the implementation of the Cairo programme of action are taking place at the UN General Assembly in New York.

The 2004 review of the Cairo conference has become part of a broader discussion in the UN about the integrated follow-up to all UN conferences. Efforts are under way to streamline the follow-up processes to the various UN conferences held in the 1990s to avoid a proliferation of future review meetings. It is likely that no firm decisions on a follow-up in 2004 to the International Conference on Population and Development will be taken until UN member states have agreed a new framework for the integrated follow-up to UN conferences. The working group which is being established to develop such a new framework is expected to report in June 2003.

Ireland remains firmly committed to the outcome of the 1994 conference which is fully consistent with our national position on the sensitive issues of reproductive health care and services.

The 1994 conference also agreed development targets such as a 75% reduction in maternal mortality by 2015. This target was reaffirmed in the UN Millennium Declaration and its associated goals. Ireland Aid's development co-operation activities are focused on contributing to the achievement of the millennium development goals, including the goal on reducing maternal mortality.

Together with our EU partners we will work to ensure that any future reviews of the 1994 conference on population and development will further serve to promote the implementation of the Cairo programme of action and the achievement of the millennium development goals.