Pádraic McCormack
Question:160 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's priorities in relation to the needs of developing countries. [21113/03]
Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:232 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that the bilateral and multilateral aid programme is directed at those to whom it was intended and that such aid is not being used as an indirect subsidy by corrupt administrations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21440/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 232 together.
The overarching goal of the official aid programme is to reduce poverty in developing countries. This is in line with international commitments and best practice, including the millennium development goals and their focus on the basic social sectors such as primary education and basic health care.
The purpose of providing development assistance is not to alleviate the symptoms of underdevelopment but rather to contribute to the solution of the underlying causes of poverty. The focus therefore is on economic growth as well as on the distribution and consumption of resources. There is equal recognition of the importance of good governance, inclusive political processes and human rights.
The policy priorities for the Government's official development programme are largely determined by our commitment to work, along with other donors and partners, towards the achievement of the millennium development goals, a series of key development targets agreed at a number of international summit meetings.
The targets call for sustained measurable progress on a range of fronts by 2015. These include a halving of the proportion of people living in extreme poverty; the achievement of universal primary education; the elimination of gender disparity at all levels of education provision; a reduction by two thirds in under five mortality rates; a reduction by three quarters in maternal mortality; halting and reversing the spread of HIV-AIDS as well as measures to ensure environmental sustainability.
The bilateral programme will continue to constitute the centrepiece of the Development Co-operation Ireland programme. The focus of the bilateral programme, which amounts to some €254 million this year, is on six least developed programme countries in sub-Saharan Africa and on East Timor, which was added as the seventh programme country in March 2003. The thrust of the programme in these countries is on basic needs – rural development, education, health and democracy and good governance. Most support is delivered in the form of integrated programmes at regional or local level, selected in consultation with partner governments. Development Co-operation Ireland will also continue to work with governments and other donors on general budget support and sectoral investment programmes.
The provision of emergency humanitarian assistance will continue to receive priority attention so that we can remain in a position to react immediately in response to major humanitarian emergencies wherever they occur. Support to date in 2003 has focused in particular on Iraq. We will continue to strengthen and deepen our support for the work of non-governmental organisations. The establishment of the multi-annual partnership scheme will place funding for five larger NGOs on a multi-annual, programmatic basis and this represents a major strengthening of our co-operation with the civil society sector.
Our support to multilateral aid agencies has been increasing in line with the increase in our overall aid budget. We will continue to concentrate our aid on a smaller number of agencies selected on the basis of objective criteria which will ensure that these are the agencies with the closest fit to our objectives. These criteria include focus on poverty, management strength and commitment to reform. Preparations for Ireland's Presidency of the EU, which takes place in the first half of 2004, will be a major priority. In addition, our Presidency will involve a key co-ordination role for Ireland at a number of major international development conferences due to take place next year.
The Government recognises that HIV-AIDS is a major public health and development challenge in poorer countries which are recipients of development assistance and that advances in poverty reduction in these situations cannot be made in the absence of an urgent and sustained response to HIV-AIDS. This year we expect to provide more than €50 million for HIV-AIDS activities across the various elements of the programme. In addition to increasing levels of funding, Ireland will advocate a more urgent and mainstreamed EU response to the issue in the context of our forthcoming EU Presidency. We will also host an international conference on HIV-AIDS during the Presidency which will bring together ministers from the EU, eastern Europe and central Asia to discuss the fight against HIV-AIDS.
On the corruption issue, the Deputy will appreciate that it is itself a development issue. Corruption erodes core democratic values and undermines the credibility of public institutions. Combating corruption is, therefore, an essential element of an effective poverty reduction strategy. As part of our policy to promote good governance in the programme countries, we work to empower both governments and poor people to deal with issues relating to corruption.
Ensuring that the aid we provide reaches those for whom it is intended is of fundamental importance to the Development Co-operation Ireland Programme. Our systems and procedures of oversight and accountability are designed with this in mind and are constantly under review.
Question No. 161 answered with Question No. 123.