Trevor Sargent
Question:64 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the Estimates 2005 for his Department. [30273/04]
View answerWednesday, 24 November 2004
Questions (87)
Written answers
The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes, Vote 28 — Foreign Affairs and Vote 29 — International Co-operation. The Estimates for Public Services in 2005 which were published last week include a total provision of €166 million for Vote 28 and €460 million for Vote 29. I am extremely pleased at the increased funding made available for both these Votes.
Included in the allocation for Vote 28 is a very substantial increase in the funding for emigrant services, bringing the total amount allocated for emigrants in 2005 to €8.2 million, more than a doubling of the allocation for last year. This very substantial increase reflects the strength of the Government's commitment to our emigrant communities. This commitment is both immediate and long-term and will be built on progressively over the coming years: funding of €19 million to complete work on and to sustain one of the most advanced passport services in the world. Before the end of this year we will produce a new machine- readable passport, capable of incorporating biometric information. The new passport will be produced using the latest technologies and will enable us to meet the highest international standard for travel documentation: an additional €4 million earmarked for the development of our visa system to the highest international standards. Underpinning the development of the new passport and visa services will be the continued upgrading of our telecommunications links: a contribution of €250,000 in 2005 —€1 million over four years — to the European Investment Bank Facility for the Euro- Mediterranean Investment and Partnership, FEMIP, trust fund. This fund has been established by EU member states and the Mediterranean partner countries as part of the process to help meet the challenges of economic and social modernisation and enhanced regional integration in the partner countries: a provision of €150,000 for information material on the European Constitution.
While no decision has been made on when a referendum will be held, we expect to publish a White Paper and possibly other information materials in 2005.
The allocation to Vote 29 next year is €460 million. This represents a large increase of €60 million, or 15% over 2004. Our total ODA commitment in 2005 will reach €535 million when the contributions of other Departments are factored in. This is the highest amount ever allocated in the history of the aid programme, and well above the EU average. A commitment has also been given, as part of a three year programme, that the development aid budget will be increased by an additional €65 million in 2006 and by another €65 million in 2007.