Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 June 2012
30 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, as part of the review of the White Paper on overseas aid, the matter of ensuring adequate family planning services in countries in which the service is considered inadequate at present is being considered in terms of a policy issue as part of that review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30201/12]
View answerIn the extensive public consultation process of the review of the White Paper on Irish Aid, there have been significant inputs and suggestions from a variety of sources emphasising the importance of maternal, neonatal and child health. As part of this input, there has been explicit reference to the value and contribution of family planning to the health of women and children.
Ireland through Irish Aid has long been committed to the Millennium Development Goals and MDG5 in particular. MDG5 has two main targets: reducing maternal mortality and achieving universal access to reproductive health, including ante-natal care and family planning services. Ireland has a strong track record of support to family planning services through support to global initiatives and at country level through government health sectors. We also support NGOs doing complementary work to increase access to family planning services.
Since 2006, Ireland has provided almost €30 million in support of UNFPA's reproductive, maternal and family planning programmes, and through a variety of channels we have assisted access to family planning services in a number of countries where such services are considered inadequate. Such countries include Mozambique, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Liberia, DRC, Zimbabwe and Somalia.
