Vol. 562 No. 1
188 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Finance his plans to promote and realise Irish strategy in view of the missed opportunity to promote Ireland's debt strategy for heavily indebted poor countries at the recent meetings of the IMF and World Bank. [5437/03]
I am not aware of any missed opportunity to promote the Irish view on any issues at the IMF and the World Bank. At the annual meetings of the institutions last September I emphasised vital issues such as education and HIV-AIDS in the very short time allotted to me. I assume the Deputy would support international action here also. The debt strategy document, which was launched last July, was forwarded to Ireland's representatives at the IMF and the World Bank in advance of the 2002 annual meetings of the institutions. Both executive boards are fully aware of Ireland's policy on developing country debt. The Taoiseach reiterated our commitment in principle to debt cancellation in his address to the world summit on sus tainable development in Johannesburg in September. In October 2002 we participated in a World Bank meeting convened to discuss the current financing gap that has arisen in the HIPC Trust Fund. In October and November last year officials from the World Bank visited Dublin and the debt issue was raised with them. The president of the bank, Mr. James Wolfensohn, came here last month. The debt strategy was also discussed with him.
As the Deputy can see, no opportunity has been missed by any of us involved with the debt strategy statement to promote our views. My Department, in close co-ordination with Ireland Aid, will continue to promote Ireland's policy on developing country debt in all relevant international fora. We will also continue to monitor closely developments in the HIPC initiative process and to participate actively in all relevant international meetings.
