John Bruton
Ceist:119 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if concerns have been raised with him concerning certain aspects of the role of UNFPA. [6548/03]
Vol. 562 No. 5
119 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if concerns have been raised with him concerning certain aspects of the role of UNFPA. [6548/03]
I have received representations alleging that UNFPA, the UN Population Fund, has supported coercive methods of family planning in specified developing countries or has promoted abortion as a method of family planning. Many of these allegations are based on material published by the Population Research Institute, a private organisation based in the United States.
Our permanent mission to the United Nations has raised these allegations directly with UNFPA on a number of occasions. The Minister of State with responsibility for development co-operation, Deputy Kitt, has also discussed them with Mrs Thoraya Obaid, executive director of UNFPA during meetings with her in July and December last year. UNFPA also provides regular briefings to donors in response to the allegations.
We have received categorical assurances from UNFPA that it has always abided strictly by its mandate, as laid down by its governing council in 1985, which provides that UNFPA should not "provide assistance for abortions, abortion services or abortion-related equipment and supplies as a method of family planning".