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Humanitarian Aid

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2013

Tuesday, 29 January 2013

Questions (196, 197, 198)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

196. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline his involvement in negotiating the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 and the mid-term review thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3818/13]

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Jerry Buttimer

Question:

197. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position on the renegotiation of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015; if renegotiation has commenced; if so, the progress made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3819/13]

View answer

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

198. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 has altered the response of Irish Aid to disasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3820/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 to 198, inclusive, together.

The World Conference on Disaster Reduction was held in Kobe, Japan in January 2005. The tangible outcome from the conference was a commitment by 168 UN Member States, including Ireland, to strengthen preparedness and minimise vulnerability to disasters through the agreement of a ten-year action plan called the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015. Ireland, through the participation of officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade contributed to the negotiations and outcome of the Conference.

The Mid-Term Review of the Hyogo Framework for Action was facilitated by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) secretariat over a twelve-month period from 2010 – 2011. The Review process sought inputs from relevant stakeholders, including Ireland. It was guided by the 2009 Global Platform, which concluded that it should "address strategic and fundamental matters concerning its implementation to 2015 and beyond". Through involvement in the 2009 Global Platform meetings and membership of the UNISDR donor support group over the 2009 – 2011 period, Ireland contributed to the mid-term review process of the Hyogo Framework.

On the international front, the Rio+20 Summit in June 2012 was the first major event to demonstrate why disasters and reducing their risks are so fundamental to sustainable development. The outcome document `The Future We Want` specifically refers to the value of a post-2015 framework as part of the sustainable development agenda. UNISDR facilitated a number of consultation conferences in 2012 and established a series of on-line dialogues which will continue intermittently throughout the consultation period. One clear message emerging from the first phase of consultations is the need for much stronger political commitment to tackle disaster risks, including more extreme events stemming from climate change. 2013 will be a critical year for the consultation process and in particular the Fourth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction scheduled for 19-23 May 2013 in Geneva will be a pivotal event. Ireland will participate at this event.

The Government recognises that poor people and countries are especially threatened by natural disasters and environmental hazards, including climate change. Ireland is therefore very supportive of global responses to disaster management and promotes the need to put in place a post-2015 framework for a more systematic approach to Disaster Risk Reduction in disaster-prone developing countries. At a bilateral level the Government through Irish Aid provides financial support to programmes having disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation objectives in Ethiopia, Lesotho, Vietnam, Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Uganda and Zambia. At a multilateral level Irish Aid supports the work of a number of leading global environment and development agencies including the UNISDR and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR). In addition, funding is provided to the Red Cross Movement and NGO partners recognising the important role these partners play in reducing risk and building local capacity to respond to disasters. Ireland has prioritised Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in our EU Presidency.

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