The question of overseas development assistance, ODA, eligibility regarding conflict prevention, peace building and security-related activities was on the agenda of the senior level meeting of the OECD Development Assistance Committee, DAC, in Paris, on 8 and 9 December 2004, and was discussed at some length.
The chair concluded at the end of the discussion that no consensus existed on proposals to broaden the coverage of the existing DAC directives in the areas of peacekeeping and on reform and non-military training of military forces. The chair also indicated that he would not now be putting this matter forward for discussion by Ministers at the OECD DAC high-level meeting in 2005, though the broad issue of security and development will continue to be a matter for discussion at the DAC.
Ireland's approach at the senior level meeting with regard to this aspect of ODA eligibility was that the proposals in respect of security system reform, civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and conflict resolution could be endorsed, while the proposals relating to small arms and light weapons, reform and non-military training of military forces and peacekeeping could not be accepted, as the arguments in favour of maintaining the current position outweighed the risks involved in approving such proposals. These risks included diverting the focus of ODA away from poverty reduction and from meeting the Monterrey commitments.
The OECD DAC reference document, A Development Co-operation Lens on Terrorism Prevention: Key Entry Points for Action, was endorsed by the DAC high level meeting in 2003 and complements the DAC Guidelines Helping Conflict Prevention of 2001. I welcome this document, which will act as a reference point for development co-operation actors in this field.
The DAC reference document draws on donor responses to international terrorism. It is intended to guide the international community and governments in their efforts to address linkages between terrorism and development and suggests how donor programmes might be designed or adjusted. It begins with a policy statement in which DAC Ministers and heads of agencies underline key issues, orientations and entry points for action. While the causes of international terrorism are complex, there are connections with development arenas, actors and issues. Consequently the international community, aid organisations, governments, the European Union, the United Nations system and the OECD have embarked on a series of reflections on how best to support global efforts to combat terrorism.
Ireland's development co-operation programme has a very strong focus on poverty reduction in the poorest developing countries. This will remain our approach.