Seymour Crawford
Ceist:6 Mr. Crawford asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress to date on the strategy plan, Irish Aid Consolidation and Growth, published in July 1993.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Strategy Plan Progress.
Richard Bruton
Ceist:8 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress to date on the strategy plan, Irish Aid Consolidation and Growth, published in July 1993.
Charles Flanagan
Ceist:13 Mr. Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress to date on the strategy plan, Irish Aid Consolidation and Growth, published in July 1993.
Paul McGrath
Ceist:23 Mr. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress to date on the strategy plan, Irish Aid Consolidation and Growth, published in July 1993.
Godfrey Timmins
Ceist:41 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress to date on the strategy plan, Irish Aid Consolidation and Growth, published in July 1993.
Michael Creed
Ceist:56 Mr. Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress to date on the strategy plan, Irish Aid Consolidation and Growth, published in July 1933.
John Connor
Ceist:62 Mr. Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress to date on the strategy plan, Irish Aid Consolidation and Growth, published in July 1993.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 8, 13, 23, 41, 56 and 62 together.
Last July, in fulfilment of the commitments on development assistance contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government, I launched a strategy plan entitled "Irish Aid: Consolidation and Growth". The strategy plan charts the ways in which an expanded aid programme could provide greater assistance and give economic and technical support to people in developing countries. It identifies new countries as the target for Irish aid, new programmes and new channels for the expanded programme. In addition, it emphasises the importance of co-operation and the free flow of ideas between the Government and the non-governmental aid community in Ireland.
I am very pleased to report that substantial progress has been made since last July in implementing the recommendations of the strategy plan. The necessary arrangements are being made to translate the increased spending on ODA into real action on the ground.
The principal actions to date are as follows. Development co-operation offices are being set up in two new priority countries — Ethiopia and Uganda. We have personnel out there on the ground setting up the offices and finalising detailed plans for an Irish aid programme in those two countries. There will be a further official level visit next month to Mozambique to set in place assistance towards rehabilitation projects in that country. Programmes in the existing priority countries — Tanzania, Zambia, Sudan and Lesotho — are being expanded. In addition to extending existing activities, new districts and sectors have been identified and selected on the basis of where need is greatest. Other targets of Irish aid include Somalia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and suitable projects in these countries are being identified for Irish aid funding. Officials from my Department are in discussion with the major voluntary agencies such as Goal, Concern and Trócaire to devise new co-financing arrangements with them. The Government has established a new advisory body on ODA — the Irish Aid Advisory Committee. The committee is to provide independent advice on matters relating to development co-operation. It has met twice and will meet again next week. Plans are under way for a meeting of a national forum on development aid to take place in April or May. The forum will provide an opportunity for NGOs and other interested groups to put forward views on the Irish aid programme as well as allowing for consideration of broader aid issues. A recent mission by officials of my Department to the Occupied Territories identified a number of projects in Gaza and the West Bank for immediate assistance for the first year's budget of US$1 million as promised at the Washington Conference last October. The Minister of State, Deputy Tom Kitt, had a successful mission to Vietnam and Cambodia in November and projects such as clearing of mine hazards as well as power generation have been identified for assistance by us. An increase in funding for emergency relief in 1994 will enable Ireland to respond promptly and effectively to disasters as they occur. As promised, a review of the refugee agency got under way at the end of 1993 and is nearing completion. A review of development education was recently carried out and a number of structural changes are being considered. One of the major initiatives in the Programme for a Partnership Government is the mandate which has been given to APSO to expand the scope of its activities and to increase the number of Irish people working in developing countries. APSO will receive funding of £7 million in 1994 compared with £4 million in 1993. The envisaged number of placements is 900 in 1994, a significant increase on the 450 placements in 1992.
The Vote for International Co-operation in the Abridged Book of Estimates for 1994 reflects the Government's pledge to increase Ireland's spending on ODA. The overall cash increase in ODA for 1994 will be in the order of £17 million. This means that over two years the spending on ODA will be increased by £30 million.
The Programme for a Partnership Government has put ODA back firmly in a position of prominence in terms of international issues facing the Government. The strategy plan is well under way and I am confident that we will continue to make progress in enacting all of its recommendations.
The strategy plan is quite detailed in that it identifies what needs to be done and the problem areas, but it is not very specific on how this country will set about alleviating the problem. The Minister mentioned Mozambique and said that Ireland could participate in the rehabilitation programmes on an ad hoc basis and could explore the feasibility of establishing a full scale bilateral assistance programme in Mozambique. It has become clear—
This is not a time for speeches. The Deputy should ask a question.
I am about to ask a question. It has become clear that plans are under way for rehabilitiation in Mozambique. Would it not be appropriate to consider Mozambique as a priority country for our bilateral aid programme?
The question involved in establishing our programmes is one of priorities. We had a very strong commitment to four African countries and we have increased that number by two. Obviously there are other cases where we can get involved on an ad hoc basis. The commitment of the Government is second to none in terms of ensuring that, in co-operation with the NGOs and other organisations, we fulfil our international obligations. The question of Mozambique — we already discussed this issue in the House — is a very difficult one. We have said we will consider the position in Mozambique to see where we can best give help and I will keep that matter under consideration.
I am sure the Deputy is aware of the reports from the Irish-Mozambique solidarity group which call for the putting into practice of new models for emergency aid delivery. That matter is under examination at present. Where possible we will be willing to improve and learn from the lessons of the last decade in terms of our aid programmes.
The Minister said that an official delegation from his Department visited Mozambique. Will he give a little more information on that visit?
I can provide all the details in relation to that visit. Senior officials of my Department visited Mozambique recently to look at the position on the ground and had discussions with the NGOs there with a view to finding the best way Ireland can contribute and assist the development of Mozambique. I will make the details available to the Deputy.
I congratulate the Minister on keeping his promise to increase ODA this year. It should go on the record that I, on behalf of my party, welcome the fact that that commitment is being maintained. I put it to the Minister, as I did on a previous occasion, that the focus needs to be centered on the question of the debt of developing countries. There is a coalition of NGOs in Ireland who are specifically addressing that question. Has the Minister met this coalition of NGOs and, if so, has he made any commitment to them in terms of the steps he intends to take at international level to press for a resolution of the debt problem of the developing countries? It is this factor above any other which causes such misery and death in developing countries.
I am very grateful for the Deputy's remarks. I and my Department are aware of the problems he has outlined arising from the burden of debt carried by many Third World countries. This is a major issue for the world community and it has to be tackled on a global level. I believe Ireland's role will be one to support the efforts of the main agencies through which the problem is addressed for example, the World Bank and the International Monetary fund — and to argue for a fair hearing for developing countries.
Given the level of crisis faced by Third World countries, I have to say on the experience of the last ten to 15 years, that we are probably no nearer to a solution to their massive problems than we were ten to 15 years ago. From our discussions, I know the European Union is very conscious of the support necessary and obviously consideration has to be given to writing off the debts of the poorest Third World countries. These problems require a global response. Obviously we have to target our aid programmes to the areas where they can be of help, and I and my European colleagues are mindful of the need to address this issue in a global way. I have not met representatives of the organisations involved but I would be willing to do so.
Is the Minister satisfied with the speed and accuracy of the distribution of aid from developed countries to the Third World, with particular reference to the possibility of aid falling into the hands of military groups, etc.? Has he used his good offices with his counterparts in the various developed countries which supply arms, ammunition and, in particular, landmines to the countries in question with a view to getting them to desist this practice? It seems ridiculous that a country could send a lorry load of aid to a country on one flight and a lorry load of munitions and landmines on another.
The Deputy has raised two very succinct points with which I will deal separately. It is extremely important that we seek to ensure to the best of our ability that aid arrives at its target. We have all read about difficulties in this area in the past, and we have had some experience of it. Obviously all the international agencies strive to ensure that the aid reaches those people who need it most. There have been problems in this respect from time to time, for example, in Somalia and in the countries of the former Yugoslavia.
With regard to the supply of arms, there is a determined effort among developed countries to ensure that humanitarian aid is not given on the one hand and arms of destruction sold on the other. This issue is very high on the agenda of the European Union.
I call Deputy Connor for a final supplementary.
The strategy plan refers to the possibility of moving beyond Africa, where most of our efforts are concentrated at present. Of course, this has to do with limited resources. Reference is made to extending aid to Asia, for example, Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangladesh. I see that a member of the Bangladesh Parliament has joined us in the Distinguished Visitor's Gallery. Can the Minister give a timescale within which we might see an extension of the direct bilateral aid programme to countries in Asia, for example, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam? Can he give a resumé of the Minister of State's recent visit to Cambodia and Vietnam?
It is an objective of the strategy plan that we would try to broaden our focus. Despite the increase in overseas development aid and the fulfilling by the Government of its commitments in this regard, it is important to ensure that we focus our aid in a proper manner. We have said we are prepared to look at new countries, such as Cambodia and Vietnam. The Minister of State recently visited these countries and there are prospects of aid being directed towards them. I hope we can do this within a very short time. I also hope this matter can be discussed by the subcommittee of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, which deals with overseas development aid, in the near future. At the same time I want to emphasise the importance of ensuring that our aid is directed towards those most in need. We have built up a good volume of experience from our dealings on the African continent where, I think, our main focus will remain for the foreseeable future.
Has the Minister anything to say about the Minister of State's recent visit to Cambodia and Vietnam?
Arising from the Minister of State's visit and his first hand experiences, we are considering the provision of aid for projects in both Vietnam and Cambodia.