Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
32. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if any portion of Ireland's oversees development assistance budget has been used for the purposes of enhancing European Union border security or funding migration control facilities in third countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40562/23]
View answerIreland's international development programme is focused on the eradication of poverty and hunger and improving the lives of vulnerable communities in developing countries.
We seek to reflect these objectives across all of our engagement on development cooperation whether in bilateral or multilateral frameworks.
Naturally these fundamental values also underline our engagement on EU development cooperation activity.
Regarding our share of spending from the EU Budget which can be counted as part of what Ireland provides in Official Development Assistance (ODA), this is, by definition, used to fund activities which meet ODA criteria, the fundamental principle of which is that the primary purpose must be the economic development and welfare of developing countries. Border security and migration control facilities do not meet these criteria.
In terms of specific examples which illustrate our preferred approach, I would cite the European Union Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF). Ireland provided bilateral contributions to EUTF totalling €15.755 between 2017 and 2020. While support provided through the EUTF addressed improved migration management, it did not include any funding for the construction or operation of detention centres or similar facilities.
Ireland's ODA is regularly peer-assessed by the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC). In its most recent review, conducted in 2020, the OECD DAC underlined that Ireland's development programme continues to be highly regarded and focused on appropriate and core development priorities.
