Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2016
583. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that the most recent Aid Transparency Index has placed Ireland 38th out of 46 major donors; that this is the fourth time in six years that Irish Aid’s transparency levels have rated as poor; and if he will explain why Irish Aid has achieved such poor results. [9798/16]
View answerIreland’s aid programme has consistently been recognised internationally for its quality, effectiveness and engagement with the Irish public. We place a strong emphasis on aid transparency in the Government’s development programme, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Publishing data on aid activities allows the Irish public and the partners we work with in developing countries to know and understand the details and impact of our aid programmes, and it promotes better planning and greater accountability.
In line with our policy commitment to aid transparency, we prepare a comprehensive Irish Aid annual report which is available to the public, and expenditure and budget data related to all programme activities are published on the Irish Aid website.
The International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), which brings together aid donors and recipient countries, was launched in 2008. Ireland has been actively involved from the outset. An Aid Transparency Index is published annually, based on IATI standards. The reasons behind Ireland’s relatively low score in the Index are essentially technical, related to the frequency of our reporting. Irish Aid aims to increase the frequency of its reporting over the coming period, which should result in an improved rating.
Irish Aid also provides detailed statistical reports to the OECD. In the most recent review of Ireland’s overseas aid programme by the OECD in 2014, it was noted that “Ireland is one of the best performing donors when it comes to directing its development aid to the world’s neediest countries”. It highlighted in particular Ireland’s work on hunger in the poorest and most vulnerable countries and our commitment to high quality development aid that is seen to have a real impact. Progress made in statistical reporting, and in publishing all evaluation and audit reports on our website was also acknowledged and praised by the OECD.
