Vol. 461 No. 8
75 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a newspaper report stating that an ombudsman should be appointed to monitor the distribution of IFI funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4008/96]
I have indeed seen the particular article in question and was somewhat surprised by its contents. As the Deputy may be aware, the Economic and Social Committee of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body for some months past has been undertaking a review of programmes of assistance for Northern Ireland and the six Southern Border counties, with particular reference to the International Fund for Ireland. I understand the committee has received extensive submissions, has taken oral evidence from a range of qualified individuals — including the chairman of the fund who has met the committee on several occasions — and has visited quite a number of fund-assisted projects across the 12 Northern counties. My understanding is that the report of the committee is only now in the process of being drawn up and will be presented to the plenary session of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body in April.
As the Deputy will be aware, the International Fund for Ireland was established by the British and Irish Governments as an international organisation with an independent board. The purpose of such a structure was to place the fund above any political divisions and to allow it to operate as an independent agent. Moreover, the fund's activities are monitored closely by its donors — the USA, the EU, Canada, Australia and New Zealand — all of whom, along with the British and Irish Governments, attend the meetings of the board of the fund. In addition, the fund publishes the criteria under which its programmes operate, deals directly with the public as regards any queries they may have, and issues an annual report and accounts. The Government's view is that both the fund's structure and practice provide it with the means to deal in a fair and even-handed manner with all approaches. In these circumstances, I do not see the need to consider the appointment of an ombudsman.
