Richard Bruton
Ceist:107 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of overseas development aid for 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6822/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 22 February 2006
Ceisteanna (86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
Freagraí scríofa
In line with the Government's commitment to increasing official development assistance in order to meet the UN target of 0.7% of GNP by 2012, an allocation of €600 million has been provided in 2006 in the Estimates for my Department's Vote for International Co-operation, Vote 29. This represents an increase of €129 million, 27%, on the 2005 level.
Taken together with the contributions of other Departments, total ODA is expected to reach a record €734 million in 2006. This includes the additional contribution of €59 million for debt cancellation made to the World Bank, as announced by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, in December 2005. Based on current anticipated growth rates, this will bring the aid budget in 2006 to 0.51% of GNP.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:108 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the African counties currently experiencing the most serious deficiencies in the administration of democracy, observance of human rights, famine or internal strife; the extent to which he directly or through the EU and UN or otherwise can positively influence the situation with a view to addressing such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7053/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard J. Durkan
Ceist:240 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will indicate the ten African countries currently having human rights strife or deficiencies in democracy; the extent to which he will influence the international community to improve the situation or by direct aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7425/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard J. Durkan
Ceist:243 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the assistance of the African Union countries can be enlisted in the context of the improved distribution of aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7428/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard J. Durkan
Ceist:244 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the full extent of Ireland’s aid programme to the various African countries; if improved targeting of aid can be achieved in specific locations particularly in areas of strife and famine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7429/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 240, 243 and 244 together.
There is no internationally recognised system for ranking either the severity of humanitarian crisis situations around the world or countries deemed guilty of the greatest deficiencies in the administration of democracy and the observance of human rights. However, it is clear that there is a strong interrelationship between conflict, the abuse of human rights, food insecurity and poverty and that all these factors impact disastrously on levels of human development.
The UNDP's human development index, HDI, is a composite index, which takes into account life expectancy, education levels, per capita GDP and overall development. Out of a total of 177 countries indexed, 32 are classified as belonging to the low human development category and of these 30 are in Africa. The 24 lowest ranked countries are all in Africa.
Ireland's development co-operation programme has Africa at its core and the greater proportion of Ireland's funds is delivered to that continent. Ireland has strong development partnerships with six countries in sub-Saharan Africa and last year opened a development office in Sierra Leone, thereby demonstrating our commitment to assisting countries emerging from conflict. While final outturns on the full extent of Ireland's aid programme are not yet available for 2005, it is estimated that Ireland provided over €150 million to the six programme countries — Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia — and South Africa and over €30 million in emergency and recovery funding to 18 countries in Africa. Considerable additional funding is provided to Africa through NGOs and missionaries.
Of particular concern at this time is the ongoing food security crisis in the Horn of Africa. I recently announced a humanitarian aid package of over €5 million for countries suffering from drought in that region. As well as directly assisting many of the poorest countries in Africa, Ireland is a strong advocate for the developing world and for international peace and security through our membership of the EU and the UN. The EU is the world's largest contributor of development co-operation. At the emergency humanitarian level, the EU strives to meet the needs of the most vulnerable and food insecure populations of Africa. In 2005, the European Commission's humanitarian office, ECHO, allocated over €240 million in humanitarian assistance to Africa.
Africa is a continent beset by often seemingly insurmountable problems including conflict, debt and poverty, HIV-AIDS and the abuse of human rights. However, working through the African Union and its new partnership for Africa's development, NEPAD, programme, African Governments are showing a new determination to address these issues collectively. The African Union represents an important strategic partner for the European Union and one with whom ever closer relations are being forged in the interests of promoting peace, security, democracy and development on the African continent. The European Council in December 2005 adopted a long-term strategy for strengthening the EU's relations with Africa. The strategy, which is based on the principles of African ownership, equality and partnership, aims at promoting development, security and good governance in Africa and achieving the millennium development goals, as well as enhanced EU-Africa dialogue. Ireland has provided assistance to the African Union for its mission in Sudan, AMIS, as part of the EU's joint actions to foster peace and security in Darfur.
Ireland closely monitors developments in the human rights situation of African countries and promotes appropriate action at bilateral, EU and UN levels. The Government has made known its concerns in relation to recent developments in both Ethiopia and Uganda and has raised these directly with the Governments involved. The EU, in its political dialogue with African countries, regularly raises issues of respect for promotion of democracy and human rights. Ireland and its EU partners also are active within the UN Commission for Human Rights in raising serious abuse of human rights in Africa, including tabling resolutions in recent years on the serious human rights situation in countries such as Zimbabwe and Sudan. We face huge challenges in working in Africa. However, I believe our approach stands the best chance of success in enabling a better future for all of the peoples of Africa.