Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 5

Written Answers - Departmental Bodies.

Enda Kenny

Question:

156 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the task forces, consultant reviews, review groups, tribunals, inquiries and similar bodies set up by his Department since July 1997; when interim or final reports were published or when publication may be expected in each case where applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9888/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The task force on policy regarding emigrants was established in December 2001 and presented its report to me at the end of August 2002. The report was also published at the same time. In March 2002, the communicating Europe group, chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs, commissioned an independent report on a comprehensive communications strategy aimed at improving the transmission of information about the European Union to the Irish public. A report entitled Raising Awareness and Understanding of the European Union among the General Public – A communications Strategy was presented to the Department of Foreign Affairs in July 2002. The Government is continuing to review the manner in which information about the European Union is transmitted to the public, including the recommendations outlined in the report.

Against the backdrop of rapid expansion and projected growth in our national programme of assistance to developing countries, the Government commissioned an independent review of Ireland Aid in December 2000. A comprehensive report presenting a wide range of recommendations was published on 27 March 2002. A review of the human rights and democratisation scheme under the Ireland Aid programme was carried out in the second half of 2002. The report of the review was published in December 2002.

An informal task force on agriculture and the private sector was established in December 2002 to develop ideas as to how Ireland Aid could assist the indigenous private sector in its partner countries to fulfil its essential role in the development of agriculture. Arising from the work of this task force, a number of pilot projects are to be implemented. There is no formal report by the task force.

In December 2002, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Kitt, established a task force to advise him on the integration of information and communication technologies – ICTs – into Ireland Aid's activities in the six programme countries of sub-Saharan Africa in which it operates and to identify, launch and implement a number of specific projects in the ICT and development area. The task force is scheduled to complete its draft ICT and development strategy by the end of October 2003.