Written Answers Nos. 110-130
110. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give assurances that any homeowner who refuses to pay the household charge will not be penalised should their children apply for third level grant assistance. [25400/13]
View answerI understand that the issue of the payment of the household charge will not be taken into account in relation to the award of student grants.
111. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional resources that will be available to Student Universal Support Ireland in the 2013-2014 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25207/13]
View answerThe staff resources recommended by the review have already been sanctioned. The resources include three additional management posts and some 23 (whole time equivalent) additional processing staff. This will help to ensure that qualifying students have their applications assessed as quickly as possible.
112. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the difficulties that some parents face in enrolling a child with special educational needs in school due to overt or soft barriers put in place by schools to prevent or discourage parents from enrolling their children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25509/13]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education recently published its policy advice on Supporting Students with Special Educational needs in Schools. This report recommended that a robust regulatory enrolment framework should be introduced for schools, to ensure that every child with special educational needs is protected from school enrolment practices or policies with overt or covert barriers that block his/her access to enrolment in the school. As the Deputy is aware, I announced at the recent Teacher Union Conferences that I will shortly bring to Government draft heads of a bill – the Education (Admission to School) Bill 2013. I will seek to publish the Bill in draft form to allow a full public discussion, including inputs from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection and the education partners. I also intend to publish draft regulations that I plan to make when the Bill is enacted. In bringing forward these proposals, my policy objective is to ensure that the way in which schools decide on applications is structured, fair and transparent. As the Bill and the Regulations will be published in draft form, they will also be subject to a lot of detailed scrutiny before becoming law. I will be reflecting carefully on the views expressed in the consultation process to ensure they strike the right balance between school autonomy and fairness in our education system.
113. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on comments by the chief executive officer of County Louth Vocational Education Committee (details supplied) who said the VEC will be forced to cut a number of its post-leaving certificate courses in the new academic year as a result of the increase in the pupil-teacher ratio and that it will result in the loss of seven full-time teaching posts across the county's two education institutes. [25393/13]
View answerDr. Padraig Kirk, CEO of County Louth VEC, submitted an impact statement to my Department on the effect of the regression in the pupil teacher ratio on PLC provision in his VEC. A review of all impact statements received was conducted having regard to the need to operate within overall budgetary constraints and the Employment Control Framework. As a result of this review some alleviation of the reduction in teaching posts is being allowed as a transitional measure. In this regard Co Louth VEC has been allowed retain one whole time equivalent teaching post, that it was due to lose under the new pupil teacher ratio allocation, for the 2013/2014 academic year and Dr. Kirk has been informed of this decision.
116. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on concerns expressed by the Irish National Teachers Organisation, which has stated that the implementation of recommendations, including changes in the allocation of resources, that are proposed in the National Council for Special Education report, Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools, would dismantle two decades of progress integrating special needs children in mainstream schools. [25397/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that last year, I requested the NCSE to review and make recommendations on the supports that we provide to children with special educational needs and how they are allocated, to ensure we are delivering the best possible educational experience and outcomes for our children. The NCSE have now published thier policy advice on Support Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools, which is available on the website www.ncse.ie. The NCSE Report is clear that there are many aspects of the current system which parents and schools are very happy with. However, the NCSE also considers that there are concerns in relation to some aspects of our current system, under the headings of Enrolment, Assessments, and the Supports for children with Special Educational Needs and their allocation. The Report makes 28 detailed recommendations which the NCSE feels would help to address these issues. One of the key principles which informs the NCSE advice is the principle of inclusive education. All of the report recommendations are therefore aimed at enhancing the educational experiences of children with special educational needs in schools, including the experience of children in mainstream schools, and building on the progress which we have already made. The recommendations in the Report are both interesting and significant. They deserve in-depth and detailed examination and exploration. That is why I have asked my Department to carefully review the recommendations and report back to me on them. I am also very conscious that in making any changes to our supports for children with Special Educational Needs, we also need to protect the gains we have made. I would therefore like to give an assurance that further consultation with stakeholders, including the Irish National Teachers Organisation, will be a key aspect in the implementation of any of these recommendations.
117. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students currently waiting for a decision on grant applications made to Student Universal Support Ireland; if the measures his Department will be taking to ensure that long delays experienced by students in receiving a decision on their applications will be avoided in the coming academic year 2013/14; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25461/13]
View answerI understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that, as at close of business on 26th May 2013, 547 applications are currently with SUSI for processing, most of which are awaiting final elements of documentation from students and are expected to be closed out in the coming week.
I am informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that, in preparation for the 2013/14 academic year, both the on-line application and the assessment process are being further developed to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency and to respond to the experiences from year one. For applicants going to or returning to college for the 2013/14 academic year, a number of new initiatives will make their application to SUSI more efficient this year. The initiatives include direct information sharing between SUSI and Government bodies and agencies including the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection, the General Register Office (GRO) and the Central Applications Office (CAO). These links should reduce significantly the number of documents required from applicants themselves. In addition to these developments, core staff are now on site. These trained and experience staff are cross functional and a number of these staff are now fully proficient in specialist areas such as analysis of income from self-employment, nationality issues and appeals. There is a revised document management process in place and also a new tracking system is currently being developed which will allow students to follow the progress of their application on-line and thereby reduce the requirement for students to contact the SUSI helpdesk for updates on the status of their applications.
118. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Taoiseach the target of his Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding the employment of persons in the special category with disabilities and whether the target is being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total work force in his Department that this represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25052/13]
View answerThe Disability Act 2005 obliges all public sector organisations, including my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), incorporating the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), which is the only statutory body under the aegis of my Department, to employ a minimum of 3% of staff with a disability. Both my Department and NESDO currently meet the statutory requirement in this regard. There are currently 212 (headcount) employees in my Department, 12 (6%) of whom have voluntarily disclosed a disability.
119. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach his views on whether sufficient progress is being made in reducing the State's legal bill in his Department and any State agencies under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25170/13]
View answerThe nature of my Department's work is geared towards policy development and co-ordination and it is not ordinarily involved in operational matters that give rise to litigation. Although matters arise from time to time which give rise to legal expenses being incurred, e.g. personal injury claims or employment rights matters, they do so on an infrequent basis only and are dealt with through the State's legal Offices. I am satisfied that when such cases occur, that my Department makes every effort to minimise the legal expenses arising as far as possible.
The work of the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), incorporating the National Economic and Social Council, which is the only agency under the aegis of my Department, is also of a policy nature and the position in relation to legal expenses there is similar to that of my Department.
120. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the number of jobs created throughout the economy in both manufacturing and service sectors in each of the past four years to date; the number of jobs lost in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24773/13]
View answerInformation on jobs created and jobs destroyed is only available for the business economy for the years 2006 - 2010. The information supplied relates to all employing enterprises from key sectors of the business economy as classified by the standard European classification of economic activity i.e. NACE Rev2 B-N excluding activities of holding companies, K 64.20. The data source used for this analysis is based on linking the P35L returns from employers to the Revenue Commissioners with the CSO business register.
Job creation for an enterprise in a given year, say 2010, is measured as the difference in the number of paid employees recorded with non-zero reckonable pay in 2010 compared to 2009, if that difference is positive (otherwise, job creation is taken to be zero). Job creation in the business economy is then calculated by summing job creation for each enterprise in the business economy.
Job destruction for an enterprise in a given year, say 2010, is measured as the difference in the number of paid employees recorded with non-zero reckonable pay in 2010 compared to 2009, if that difference is negative (otherwise, job destruction is taken to be zero). Job destruction in the business economy is then calculated by summing job destruction for each enterprise in the business economy. Note when interpreting figures, job destruction in 2010 means that these jobs were identified in 2009 but not in 2010, as such, the jobs disappeared sometime during 2009.
Using this source job creation figures for the business economy were at there lowest in 2009 at 169,000 before recovering slightly in 2010 to 184,000. Job destruction figures peaked at 512,000 when 2009 was compared with 2008 before dropping back sharply in 2010.
Table 1 Job creation and job destruction figures for the business economy, manufacturing and the services sectors 2006 -2010
|
- |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
|
Business economy excluding activities of holding companies (NACE Rev. 2 Sectors B to N, excluding code 642) |
|||||
|
Jobs as measured by employment records (Number) |
1,971,797 |
2,118,610 |
1,986,684 |
1,645,874 |
1,539,894 |
|
Job creation (Number) |
353,614 |
375,167 |
217,819 |
168,725 |
184,176 |
|
Job destruction (Number) |
198,209 |
228,356 |
349,745 |
511,855 |
290,785 |
|
Industry (NACE Rev. 2 Sector B-E) |
|||||
|
Jobs as measured by employment records (Number) |
309,351 |
317,276 |
300,694 |
255,709 |
230,430 |
|
Job creation (Number) |
34,591 |
35,355 |
20,861 |
19,173 |
18,619 |
|
Job destruction (Number) |
22,508 |
27,430 |
37,443 |
59,151 |
33,869 |
|
Manufacturing (NACE Rev. 2 Sector C) |
|||||
|
Jobs as measured by employment records (Number) |
279,919 |
285,944 |
269,392 |
226,714 |
203,879 |
|
Job creation (Number) |
31,375 |
31,976 |
18,136 |
17,020 |
16,977 |
|
Job destruction (Number) |
20,496 |
25,951 |
34,688 |
54,998 |
29,992 |
|
Business economy services excluding activities of holding companies (NACE Rev. 2 Sectors G to N, excluding code 642) |
|||||
|
Jobs as measured by employment records (Number) |
1,385,776 |
1,517,830 |
1,457,442 |
1,242,994 |
1,198,526 |
|
Job creation (Number) |
248,919 |
280,460 |
167,094 |
135,706 |
149,023 |
|
Job destruction (Number) |
139,528 |
148,406 |
227,482 |
358,296 |
206,309 |
|
Source: Job Churn statistics, Central Statistics Office |
Detailed breakdowns are available at: http://cso.ie/shorturl.aspx/102
Methodological notes are available at: http://cso.ie/shorturl.aspx/101
121. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach the number of submissions received by his Department in relation to the recent call for submissions concerning the policy statement on economic regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25282/13]
View answer122. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach the submissions received by his Department in relation to the recent call for submissions concerning the Government policy statement on economic regulation will be published on his Department’s website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25283/13]
View answer123. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if the annual regulatory forum has met since June 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25284/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 121 to 123, inclusive, together.
My Department recently conducted a public consultation on the proposed Government Statement on Economic Regulation. The closing date for this consultation was 17 May 2013 and in excess of 20 submissions have been received. Each submission is now being carefully analysed by officials in my Department and will provide an important input in framing the upcoming Government Policy Statement on Economic Regulation. It is intended that the submissions from the consultation will be published on my Department's website, once the analysis has been completed and the Statement published. The Regulatory Forum last met in June 2011 and the views of stakeholders as to its future remit have been sought as part of the wider public consultation on economic regulation.
124. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach the number of officials who have been present at each IFSC Clearing House Group meeting since March 2011 including each working group. [25673/13]
View answerOfficials from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Finance, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Central Bank, the Revenue Commissioners, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland attend meetings of the Clearing House Group and/or its associated Working Groups. The table outlines the total number of officials present at each of the meetings since March 2011.
|
- |
Clearing House Group |
Banking & Treasury WG |
Funds WG |
Insurance WG |
Asset Management WG |
Pension Funds WG |
Asset Management & Pension Funds WG* |
|
Mar-11 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
||||
|
Apr-11 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
||||
|
May-11 |
9 |
3 |
7 |
6 |
|||
|
Jun-11 |
9 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
||
|
Jul-11 |
9 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
|||
|
Aug-11 |
|||||||
|
Sep-11 |
4 |
9 |
3 |
3 |
|||
|
Oct-11 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
||||
|
Nov-11 |
12 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
||
|
Dec-11 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
||||
|
Jan-12 |
12 |
4 |
8 |
5 |
|||
|
Feb-12 |
3 |
8 |
5 |
1 |
|||
|
Mar-12 |
7 |
||||||
|
Apr-12 |
12 |
4 |
6 |
||||
|
May-12 |
6 |
4 |
|||||
|
Jun-12 |
9 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
||
|
Jul-12 |
7 |
||||||
|
Aug-12 |
|||||||
|
Sep-12 |
11 |
6 |
10 |
5 |
|||
|
Oct-12 |
10 |
5 |
|||||
|
Nov-12 |
13 |
5 |
8 |
7 |
|||
|
Dec-12 |
5 |
8 |
|||||
|
Jan-13 |
14 |
8 |
5 |
2 |
|||
|
Feb-13 |
4 |
8 |
|||||
|
Mar-13 |
11 |
5 |
4 |
||||
|
Apr-13 |
3 |
7 |
|||||
|
May-13 |
10 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
*The Asset Management & Pension Funds Working Groups amalgamated at the beginning of 2013.
125. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Taoiseach the Minister of State or Minister who represented Ireland at European Council meetings during the Irish Presidency to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25746/13]
View answerThe Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that "The European Council shall consist of the Heads of State or Government of the Member States, together with its President and the President of the Commission." In this regard, the Taoiseach is Ireland's representative on the European Council. There have been three meetings of the European Council during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU: 7-8 February, 14-15 March and 22 May. The Taoiseach attended all of these meetings. The Taoiseach will also attend the final European Council scheduled during the Irish Presidency on 27-28 June.
126. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the organisations awarded funding from his Department under the annual development education grant scheme for 2013; the amounts awarded to each organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25267/13]
View answerThe development education programme managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade seeks to deepen the understanding of the Irish public on issues relating to global poverty and development. The Department issues a call every year for proposals for annual grants from Non-Governmental Organisations and education institutions in Ireland to help build a stronger understanding of global development issues.
Under the 2013 Development Education Annual Grants call, a total of €1,250,426 was awarded to thirty organisations. The organisations and the funding provided are set out in the following table.
|
Organisation |
Amount (€) |
|
Afri |
45,000 |
|
Africa Centre |
25,000 |
|
Amnesty International Irish Section |
50,000 |
|
An Cosán |
15,000 |
|
Centre for Global Education, Northern Ireland |
60,000 |
|
Cork Institute of Technology |
38,000 |
|
Co. Dublin VEC, Adult Education Service |
40,000 |
|
Debt & Development Coalition Ireland |
24,996 |
|
Development Perspective |
10,000 |
|
ECO-UNESCO |
70,000 |
|
EIL Intercultural Learning |
45,000 |
|
Galway One World Centre |
80,000 |
|
Inishowen Development Partnership |
50,000 |
|
Irish Congress of Trade Unions |
50,000 |
|
Irish Girl Guides |
10,000 |
|
The Larkin Unemployed Centre |
10,000 |
|
Latin America Solidarity Centre |
80,000 |
|
Link Community Development |
25,000 |
|
Lourdes Youth & Community Services |
80,000 |
|
Mayfield Community Arts Centre |
15,000 |
|
National Council of YMCAs of Ireland |
15,000 |
|
National Youth Council of Ireland |
80,000 |
|
The Organic Centre |
40,000 |
|
The Social Health & Education Project (SHEP) |
12,430 |
|
St Patrick's College, Drumcondra |
20,000 |
|
Ubuntu |
150,000 |
|
UCD, School of Social Justice |
33,000 |
|
Value Added in Africa |
30,000 |
|
Waterford One World Centre |
25,000 |
|
Youth Work Ireland |
22,000 |
|
TOTAL |
1,250,426 |
127. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will update Dáil Éireann on his response to the recent tornado in Oklahoma; if he will describe the international efforts of support to which the Irish State is party; if he will offer to provide temporary accommodation to affected US families and temporary educational support to the children of affected families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25368/13]
View answerThe deadly tornado which struck the city of Moore in Oklahoma on the afternoon of 20 May caused widespread damage and destruction to the city itself and the surrounding district. The tornado's winds exceeded two hundred miles per hour, flattened entire blocks and demolished two schools and a hospital during the fifty minute period during which it passed through the area. Twenty four people were killed by the storm, ten of whom were children. Approximately three hundred and twenty people are reported to have been injured. I am sure that the Deputy and other members of the Dáil will join me in offering our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families at this difficult time. Our deepest sympathies also go out to the people of Oklahoma and to all whose lives have been affected.
As the Deputy will be aware, the United States' disaster response capability is one of the most advanced in the world. As such, while President Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma and ordered US federal authorities to join in the efforts to search for survivors, the US Government has decided not to make any appeal for international assistance. Nevertheless and mindful of the exceptionally strong ties between Ireland and the United States, the Government of Ireland stands ready to provide help should this be required or requested. At both UN and EU level, the international community has also expressed its willingness to assist.
The Irish Consulate in Chicago has also been monitoring the situation and has liaised closely with contacts in Oklahoma throughout the crisis. At the present time, there are no reports of any Irish citizens being caught up in the tornado but the Consulate will continue to monitor the situation carefully.
128. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of Irish Aid’s budget that was spent on nutrition specific programmes in 2012; and if he will detail which nutrition specific programmes received this funding. [25433/13]
View answerCombating global hunger and under-nutrition is a key pillar of our foreign policy and our overseas development assistance programme, and this was reconfirmed earlier this month when we launched Ireland’s new policy for international development, 'One World, One Future'. Indeed, I think it would be fair to say that Ireland, for many years, has been a leader on hunger and nutrition even before the issue gained more recent interest. Irish Aid is committed to building further on the 2008 Hunger Task Force Report, the framework which continues to guide Ireland’s response to addressing global hunger and under-nutrition, and its priority areas of focus, in particular targeting under-nutrition in mothers and children.
With under-nutrition causing the deaths of an estimated 3 million children every year, and 165 million children under five years of age suffering from stunting and lacking the nutrients they need to develop their full potential, Irish Aid has strengthened its nutrition response in recent years. Since its inception in 2010, Ireland has been a strong supporter of the Scaling Up Nutrition movement, a global movement which brings together different development partners to tackle under-nutrition, especially maternal, infant and child under-nutrition.
We are supporting a wide range of specific nutrition interventions and programmes in Irish Aid partner countries with a particular focus on preventing stunting in early childhood by targeting the 1,000 day window of opportunity (from pregnancy to the age of two). We work with partners to improve infant and young child feeding practices in Tanzania and Sierra Leone and promote exclusive breastfeeding for infants up to six months of age. We are supporting a number of micronutrient supplementation programmes which deliver essential vitamins and minerals to poor households with young children through providing capsules, micronutrient powders and food sprinkles. We are also supporting national programmes in Mozambique, Malawi and Ethiopia to fortify food staples such as flour, sugar and salt with essential vitamins and minerals.
Vitamin A deficiency is the number one cause of childhood blindness and also greatly compromises the immune system. In Malawi, Mozambique and Ethiopia we are working with partners to address high Vitamin A deficiency rates through the growing of nutritious, and vitamin A enriched, orange fleshed varieties of sweet potato. In Tanzania we are working with partners to improve nutrition through enhancing homestead production of nutrient rich foods. We are working with partners in Lesotho on a keyhole gardens programme in which poor households can grow micro-nutrient rich vegetables all year-round.
We have delivered on our target of directing twenty per cent of the Irish Aid budget on hunger reduction. Reaching this target has involved a reorientation of our development programme to ensure a stronger hunger and nutrition response at country level and at the global level. It clearly marks Ireland out in global terms as a nation that is committed in the fight against hunger and under-nutrition. We estimate that in 2012 Irish Aid expended approximately €14 million on direct nutrition interventions, however this figure may indeed be higher after we get feedback from Irish Aid's civil society partners on the use of grants provided to them.
129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which international monitoring takes place in the matter of allegations of human rights abuses in Iran; if the EU or UN has established a position in respect of specific or general instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25546/13]
View answerEvery year since 2004, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution expressing its grave concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. In 2011 a mandate for a UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran was created by the Human Rights Council. According to the Special Rapporteur’s report of February 2013 there continue to be widespread and systematic violations of human rights in Iran. His report presents in detail a situation in which civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights are undermined and violated both in law and practice. Moreover, a lack of Government investigation and redress generally fosters a culture of impunity, further weakening the impact of the international human rights instruments which Iran has ratified.
The Special Rapporteur has sought to visit Iran in order to engage in dialogue and further investigate allegations of human rights violations. However, the Iranian government has not yet granted him access. Representatives of my Department met with the Special Rapporteur in March of this year and discussed his concerns. Ireland and the EU strongly supported the extension of his mandate at the Human Rights Council and will continue to push for his being allowed access to Iran.
The EU is also very concerned by the deterioration of Iran's human rights situation, even more so since the crackdown which followed the 2009 presidential elections. In response to the worsening human rights situation, the EU in 2011 agreed sanctions – including a travel ban and asset freeze – against certain named people complicit in or responsible for grave human rights violations in Iran. EU High Representative Ashton has made a number of statements regarding specific human rights cases in Iran, most recently in January and February of this year. The EU's principal and consistent policy has been to call on Iran to live up to the international human rights standards to which it has freely subscribed.
130. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ensure that the proposals arising from the conference, Scaling up EU Impact on Community Resilience and Nutrition, organised by Alliance 2015 will be given detailed consideration at the forthcoming EU Foreign Affairs (Development) Council; the proposals, if any, he has to ensure that the conclusions of that conference are given further consideration following the Foreign Affairs Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25609/13]
View answerI was delighted to have participated in the conference organised by Alliance 2015 in Dublin last March on 'Scaling Up EU Impact on Community Resilience and Nutrition'. The conclusions of this conference are closely aligned to the Government’s development priorities for Ireland's EU Presidency. A central focus for Ireland's Presidency, which is strongly mirrored in the outcomes of this conference, has been the need to tackle global hunger and under-nutrition and the need to build the resilience of vulnerable individuals, families, communities and nations to food and other crises.
As EU Presidency, we are striving to forge stronger links between the EU's development and humanitarian policies and programmes, through an increased focus on building community resilience. We are emphasising the need to comprehensively address the root causes of food and nutrition insecurity and the underlying vulnerabilities affecting poor people. We are stressing the need for the EU and its Member States to increase support for longer-term programmes which assist partner countries to anticipate, prevent, prepare for and manage food and other crises. We are asking the EU to recognise the importance of addressing vulnerability in a joined up, multi-sectoral way by linking relief and development through a strong partnership approach and to manage risk rather than simply react to it.
Ultimately, better development and risk reduction can reduce the need for emergency relief and better relief can contribute to sustainable development. Investing in resilience today through humanitarian and development assistance is also much more cost effective than responding to a crisis tomorrow. I am bringing these messages to the development segment of the Foreign Affairs Council today. We have worked closely with EU Member States, the European External Action Service and the EU Commission to develop strong sets of Council Conclusions on food and nutrition security in external assistance and on the EU approach to resilience. I expect that these Council Conclusions will be considered and adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council today.
