Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2012
182. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a detailed breakdown of all moneys allocated to Irish aid for overseas development during the past five years; if he is satisfied that all moneys went to the projects for which they were intended; if all this funding was spent appropriately and accounted for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48735/12]
View answerIreland’s aid programme prioritises the fight against global poverty and hunger. Every day it saves lives and builds capacity for the future – making a real difference in the lives of millions. The programme is central to our foreign policy, has an enviable international reputation, and consistently enjoys strong political and public support.
Over the past five years, and despite the very difficult economic conditions facing the country for much of that period, Ireland has consistently contributed over 0.52% of gross national product, GNP, towards Official Development Assistance, ODA. This level of contribution has earned us a strong reputation for being a generous and reliable donor, and clearly demonstrates the Government’s determination to meet our commitments towards assisting some of the world poorest people. In the current year, Ireland will contribute €639 million to ODA.
Each year a detailed analysis of Ireland’s ODA is published in the statistical annexes to the Irish Aid annual report. The annexes provide a comprehensive analysis of Ireland’s ODA, including the developing countries supported; the areas or sectors in which we engage, and the partner organisations implementing our development programmes. I am arranging for copies of the annual reports for the past five years to be sent to the Deputy.
Irish Aid works in some of the world’s least developed countries, often in challenging and risky environments. Many times we are working through government systems and other partnerships with relatively low capacity. We have put in place rigorous systems for planning, monitoring, evaluating and auditing the aid programme to ensure funding is spent for the purposes intended. We continually monitor and assess programmes both at mission level and by headquarters staff to ensure that programmes deliver the intended results. A comprehensive system of internal audit is in place, with an independent audit committee which reports directly to the Secretary General. We work closely with national audit offices and provide assistance where appropriate. All instances and/or allegations of fraud or misappropriation are reported directly to the Secretary General and onwards to the Comptroller and Auditor General. However no control environment, no matter how strong, can provide cast iron assurances that fraud or misappropriation will not occur. In the last two weeks evidence of serious misappropriation of funding in Uganda has come to light concerning Irish and other donor funding intended for northern Uganda. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade took immediate and decisive action and suspended all aid to Uganda through government systems, until such time as the funding is repaid and action taken against the perpetrators of this fraud. In addition a team of evaluation and audit officials from my Department travelled to Uganda to investigate the findngs of the Auditor General and will be reporting back shortly.
The role of the Ugandan Auditor General was very important in identifying this fraud especially in view of the levels of collusion involved. Irish Aid has been assisting this office over a number of years as part of its programme of building strong and accountable Government institutions. Corruption and fraud must be fought if continuing progress is to be made in Africa. Offices of Auditors General are key to this fight and we will continue to support them where possible.
We have now received confirmation from the Ugandan Government that all Irish Aid funding misappropriated will be repaid; the officials who engaged in financial impropriety will be fully prosecuted, and that strong measures will be undertaken to tighten internal controls. We welcome this commitment, and our Ambassador in Kampala is working with the Ugandan authorities in bringing matters forward. Finally, we are determined to ensure the lessons learned from Uganda are incorporated into our business control system.
