Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2012
180. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether it is appropriate that Ireland continue to provide overseas aid directly to Governments such as the Ugandan Government which continue to propose laws that attach a person's human rights based on their sexuality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52481/12]
View answerThe promotion and safeguarding of human rights, particularly those of minority groups, is a central element of Ireland’s foreign policy. I share the widespread concerns about the difficult situation faced by the LGBT community in Uganda and certain other countries in the region. I am particularly concerned about developments in relation to the draft Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which was presented as a private member’s Bill, and is currently under consideration at committee level in the Ugandan Parliament.
Ireland, together with other donor countries in Uganda, has engaged actively on this issue since it first arose in 2009. We continue to advocate strongly against the adoption of the proposed law. Our Embassy in Kampala has consistently made the case to the Government of Uganda, at all levels, that the passing of any such legislation would be in conflict with Uganda’s international human rights obligations and would have a detrimental effect on the country’s relations with its international development partners, including Ireland.
I raised the issue directly with the President of Uganda when I visited the country in July. I asked our Ambassador in Kampala to continue to follow developments closely. Last week, she and a group of EU Ambassadors outlined our serious concerns in a meeting with the Prime Minister of Uganda. The official position of the Government of Uganda on the Bill is that it is not part of the Government’s legislative programme. President Museveni has made a commitment to engage members of Parliament on the implications of this Bill for Uganda’s international relations and reputation. We, and the other international aid donors, remain committed to ensuring that the citizens of Uganda do not suffer violence or discrimination on the grounds of their sexual orientation. Our Embassy in Uganda will continue to monitor developments closely in the coming weeks.
Uganda is a priority country for Ireland’s aid programme, with a commitment to long term strategic assistance. As with the other priority countries, our programme is strongly focused on the fight to end poverty and hunger among some of the poorest people and communities, with assistance channelled through government systems, multilateral organisations and NGOs. We fund programmes through government systems in order to empower national governments to deliver and take ownership of the provision of services, which is essential if the improvements achieved are to be sustainable in the long term. Irish Aid funding through governments is for agreed programmes in the social, health and education sectors, which are regularly examined and evaluated to ensure we achieve effectiveness and value for money. In the case of Uganda, as the Deputy will be aware, I have suspended funding of Irish Aid programmes delivered through the Government as a result of the misappropriation of funds intended for the Peace, Recovery and Development Programme. This suspension will remain in place until the misappropriated funds are returned and we are fully confident that the Government has strengthened its internal financial controls and acted against all officials implicated in the fraud.
