Vol. 571 No. 2
106 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will consider using the Irish EU Presidency programme to put achievement of the millennium development goals at the top of the EU and international agenda as the best means for achieving human security; and if he will consider elevating this to a central plank of the Irish Presidency programme on a par with enlargement and the Lisbon Agenda. [21409/03]
The declaration adopted at the UN Millennium Summit in 2000 included eight development goals. The goals set specific targets to be achieved by 2015 in areas such as the reduction in the number of people living in extreme poverty, universal primary education, maternal and child mortality and HIV/AIDS.
The EU, which contributes over 50% of global overseas development assistance, has a major role to play in the achievement of the millennium development goals. By taking the lead and using the millennium development goals as an overarching framework for its development policy with the key target of poverty reduction, the EU can set an example for other international donors. The achievement of the millennium development goals is closely linked to the mobilisation of development finance. In April 2002 there was a follow-up to the millennium summit when the UN held the International Conference on Financing for Development. This conference adopted an agreement, the Monterey consensus, which deals with all sources of development finance, including the mobilisation of domestic savings, trade, debt relief and overseas development assistance.
As its contribution to the Monterey consensus, the Barcelona European Council adopted eight development commitments covering, inter alia, overseas development assistance, trade and debt relief. The Council agreed that EU member states would collectively increase their ODA to ensure the EU average ODA would rise to 0.39% of gross national income by 2006 from an average of 0.33% of GNI in 2001. It has been estimated that this commitment will result in an additional €20 billion in collective EU ODA between 2002 and 2006.
The EU Commission is closely monitoring the implementation of the Barcelona development commitments, including the ODA commitment. The second progress report on the commitments will be presented to the General Affairs and External Relations Council in April 2004 during Ireland's EU Presidency. I see this discussion by Ministers at the General Affairs Council as one of the most important development debates at the Council during our Presidency. We will use the discussion by EU Ministers of this progress report to focus EU political and public attention on the central importance of the millennium development goals and their financing.
We are already discussing the preparation of the progress report with the Commission and have indicated the importance of this issue on our Presidency agenda. I am satisfied that the consideration by the General Affairs Council of the Commission's progress report will be a major opportunity to highlight the central relevance of the millennium development goals to the European Union and to reaffirm the EU's commitment to the goals and their financing.
Trócaire put it quite effectively when it said that poverty, disease and injustice are the deadliest weapons of mass destruction and the greatest source of daily insecurity for millions of people. Will the Minister agree that the Irish EU Presidency is a golden opportunity to fulfil these millennium goals and to put them at the top of the EU and international agenda by ensuring human and global security? As part of the global social justice agenda, and in keeping with this State's support for a human security approach, having signed up to the EU Barcelona commitments, I ask the Minister to support my proposal to try to bring the EU partners on board to match Ireland's stated commitment to debt cancellation, to prioritise trade justice and to press for a conclusion on the three outstanding Doha development rounds acceptable to the developing world.
Will the Minister agree that the EU should show leadership on official development assistance by returning to ODA budgeting on a multi-annual basis? Ireland should consider guaranteeing an increase from the current 0.41% to approximately 0.48% of GNP for next year's budget. It should ensure there is policy coherence on poverty eradication as a guiding principle for the EU's external action. Will he agree that this country should show leadership by committing to the introduction of legislation establishing a Tobin tax and by campaigning to establish the EU as a Tobin tax zone? How does the Minister intend during Ireland's Presidency to spearhead the campaign to mobilise the EU behind the appeal of the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, for support for radical UN reform?
In conclusion, will the Minister agree to adopt a global social justice agenda during Ireland's EU Presidency in 2004? I believe if he does so that the Irish public will wholeheartedly endorse it. It would be a source of pride for Ireland if we were to take the lead on this issue.
I said in my initial reply that this would be a priority for us. With regard to multi lateral attempts to deal with the problems associated with development goals, the failure of the WTO ministerial conference in Cancún to agree a framework for pursuing the Doha development agenda was a significant setback for developing countries. One would like to have seen a successful outcome as a good background against which it could be ensured the objectives were met. Efforts to reduce poverty and to integrate countries into the global economy would be better promoted through a fair and equitable multilateral trade agreement rather than bilateral or regional arrangements. Our efforts must be redoubled to secure an agreement at the WTO that is fair and just to developing and developed countries alike.
The EU Commission and Ministers continued to reflect on the implications of the failure in the aftermath of the Cancún meeting. Commissioner Lamy reported to the Council early this week and indicated more time would be needed to fully assess the long-term implications. It is also possible that the Presidency will convene a meeting of trade Ministers. The task of the forthcoming Irish Presidency will be influenced by the evolution of EU thinking in the coming weeks and by further developments at the WTO between now and December. We stand ready to work hard with a view to putting the talks back on track.
The Government's key priority in the development co-operation programme is to ensure maximum effectiveness in Ireland's contribution to reducing global poverty and inequality. The fight against HIV-AIDS in developing countries will receive particular attention within the set of development co-operation priorities for Ireland's EU Presidency. The Government's record on funding the overseas development programme is second to none.
I welcome the Minister's commitment. I hope that this time next year progress will have been made. However, he did not address my question on the Tobin tax and whether during Ireland's Presidency we will set the agenda on such issues. France has adopted the tax and Ireland should spearhead its adoption during the Presidency.
I refer the Deputy to a detailed reply on this issue in a later parliamentary question.
