Vol. 541 No. 2
227 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will address the issues raised by Galway for Life (details supplied) in relation to State funding for UNFPA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21909/01]
Ireland has brought to UNFPA's attention the allegations made in the letter from Galway for Life. We are informed that there are no UNFPA projects in Tibet. The Government remains concerned about the human rights situation in China, including the effects of China's population control policy on the human rights of the Chinese people and in particular the people of Tibet. We have repeatedly expressed our concerns at every appropriate opportunity to the Chinese authorities, both bilaterally and through the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. Most recently, the Taoiseach raised our concerns about the situation in Tibet with the Chinese Premier, Mr. Zhu Rongji, during his visit to Ireland at the beginning of September.
The UNFPA's programme in China has projects in 32 poor counties. It was requested by the Chinese Government and approved by the 36 member state UNFPA executive board. The programme adheres strictly to the voluntary, human rights-based approach to reproductive health and family planning stipulated by the 1994 UN Cairo Conference on Population and Development and unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. The abolition of quotas and targets in the 32 counties was a condition of UNFPA assistance. Funds were released only after the UNFPA field office received official written communication from provincial/local authorities that quotas and targets had been removed from participating counties. It has been agreed with the Chinese Government that the project will follow all UNFPA procedures for monitoring and evaluation. In addition, the Government has agreed that the project counties will be open to monitoring visits by foreigners and that county officials would be available to talk to foreign delegations.
