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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Mar 2003

Vol. 562 No. 4

Written Answers - UN Population Fund.

Fiona O'Malley

Question:

210 Ms F. O'Malley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise with the US authorities the issue of the US withdrawal of funds for UNFPA; and if he will encourage the Administration to restore the funding in view of the effect its absence is having on the growth of poverty and disease, in particular HIV and AIDS in developing countries. [6217/03]

I am aware of the difficulties created for the UNFPA – UN Population Fund – by the US decision to withdraw its funding. Our concerns and those of the other EU member states have been reflected in an EU démarche conveyed to the US authorities on this subject. Dialogue between the UN, the US and the Chinese Government in an effort to resolve the matter is continuing. Ourselves and our EU partners support this dialogue and the early resumption of US funding.

The US State Department is the interlocutor on this issue as the Secretary of State has the responsibility for deciding on the compatibility of US funding with the provisions of the relevant US legislation governing the allocation of development assistance in support of population and family planning related programmes.

Last summer, the US Secretary of State decided to withhold $34 million from the UNFPA despite the findings of two separate investigations by independent teams, commissioned by UNFPA and by the British Parliament, and of its own fact-finding mission, that the fund is working to encourage China away from coercive policies and is not involved in supporting a one-child policy. At the time, the State Department voiced concern,inter alia, that it was possible that some of UNFPA's activities – such as the funding of computers – might unwittingly be used to support China's coercive policies.
UNFPA is working to support the implementation of some of the key millennium development goals, including the goal of reducing the maternal mortality rate by 75% by 2015, and should therefore continue to be an important development partner for Ireland Aid. UNFPA's programmes also have a major focus on the fight against HIV-AIDS, one of the biggest challenges facing developing countries and one of the overarching objectives of Ireland's development assistance.
At the EU Development Council in May 2002, EU member states reaffirmed the importance of the role of UNFPA in reaching the millennium development goals in the areas of infant, child and maternal mortality and restated the EU's firm commitment to continue to support the fund. The Commission has allocated an additional €20 million to UNFPA.
Ireland is supporting the work of UNFPA in responding to such development challenges as maternal and infant mortality, HIV-AIDS and maternal reproductive health care. In 2003, Ireland Aid will contribute €2.54 million to UNFPA, a reflection of the continued importance Ireland attaches to UNFPA's work.
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