Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 November 2012
15. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the discussion he had with the President of Malawi and the President of Mozambique; and if there will be any changes to the Irish Aid programme in these countries. [50101/12]
View answerMy colleague the Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello, T.D., held bilateral meetings with the Presidents of Malawi and Mozambique on 16 October while he was in Brussels for the series of meetings and discussions organised by the Commission at the annual European Development Days event. Malawi and Mozambique are two of the eight priority countries for the Government’s development cooperation programme, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance.
I am satisfied that Ireland’s development cooperation programmes in Mozambique and Malawi are achieving very positive results, benefitting the poorest communities. As with all our bilateral aid programmes, these programmes are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that they are making a real impact and represent value for the significant investment by Irish taxpayers.
Minister of State Costello renewed our congratulations to President Joyce Banda of Malawi on her appointment as Head of State in April, and acknowledged the efforts she has led to improve economic and democratic governance in Malawi. They discussed in particular the challenges facing almost two million people in Malawi who are currently food insecure. The President expressed her appreciation for the additional support of €1m received from Ireland to help address these immediate needs.
In his meeting with President Guebuza, the Minister of State noted that Mozambique is the largest of Ireland’s bilateral aid programmes, and that remarkable economic progress is now being made in the country, despite the appalling death and destruction of the lengthy civil war which ended just 20 years ago. He outlined the thinking behind Ireland’s new Africa Strategy, and discussed the opportunities which exist for increased bilateral economic links between Ireland and Mozambique. The President noted that the authorities in Mozambique looked forward to engaging with members of the Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts when they visit in November.
