The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). I have set out in the tables below details of external advisory services engaged in connection with policy and administrative matters relating to the operation of the Department under both Votes and the amounts paid on such services since 1 January 2007.
I am very conscious of the need to achieve value for money on such expenditure. The Department commissions external advisory services only where specialised knowledge and/or skills are not available within the Department and, particularly in the case of Irish Aid (Ireland's official development assistance programme), where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. Given the overall scale of the Irish Aid Programme, I am satisfied that this level of monitoring, review and evaluation is both prudent and proportionate.
With regard to bodies under the aegis of my Department, only the Irish Aid Advisory Board commissioned external consultancies in 2007 and the relevant figures are included in a separate table.
In addition to the foregoing, the Department, the Minister of State for Overseas Development and I had access to advice on policy and administrative matters relating to the operation of the Department from the following sources during 2007:
The Advisory Board for Irish Aid provides general oversight and advice on the strategic direction of the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries;
The Development Education Advisory Committee (DEAC) provides advice on policy regarding development education;
The Díon Advisory Committee advises and makes recommendations on Emigrant Services funding to voluntary organisations that work with vulnerable Irish people resident in Britain;
The Hunger Task Force was established in September 2007, in line with the recommendation of the White Paper on Irish Aid, to identify the contributions that Ireland can make to international efforts to reduce hunger. The Task Force will present a final report to the Minister of State with responsibility for Overseas Development.
The administration of the foregoing bodies is met from the Department's budget.
During 2007, I also received a report from the former Minister of State, Mr. Chris Flood, on a study carried out in relation to Irish people serving prison sentences overseas. This report was provided at no cost to the Department, apart from the travel costs associated with the study.
The capital expenditure projects undertaken by the Department mainly concern the acquisition and maintenance of Mission properties abroad. The Department may from time to time seek advice from the Office of Public Works in relation to such property matters.
I regret that it is not possible for me to give the Deputy an item-by-item breakdown of the advice received and the status of implementation in each case. However, I can confirm that all advice received is carefully considered and that all recommendations that enhance policy and administration will be implemented where practicable and where budgetary considerations permit.
Vote 29 (International Cooperation)
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External Advisory Services Engaged in 2007
|
|
Service Provided
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Consultant
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Amounts Paid to date in 2007
|
|
Provision of advice and expertise on public procurement.
|
Achilles Procurement Services Limited
|
109,500
|
|
Technical support to the Zambia/Ireland TeacherEducation Initiative
|
Reginald Terrence Allsop
|
15,910
|
|
Quality Assessment of the Irish Aid Evaluation Tsunami Report
|
Annesley Resource Partnership
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2,723
|
|
Independent Consultant for the Partnership Programme for Europe and Central Asia Funding Committee
|
Annesley Resource Partnership
|
6,579
|
|
Review of the Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme
|
Annesley Resource Partnership
|
34,388
|
|
Technical Consultant to the Civil Society Funding Schemes
|
Aodh O’Connor
|
13,800
|
|
Technical Support to the Civil Society & Micro Projects Fund 9
|
Aodh O’Connor
|
2,658
|
|
Advisory input to Irish Aid’s Project Assessment and Evaluation Group (PAEG)
|
Andre Barsony
|
10,166
|
|
Programme Consultant for the Central America Programme
|
Luis Enrique Bran Reyes
|
37,864
|
|
Global Fund Strategy Technical Support
|
Ruiri Brugha
|
8,450
|
|
Provision of Technical Support on Health and HIV/AIDS March 2005 to Dec 2006
|
Catherine A Butcher
|
3,893
|
|
Technical Support to the Civil Society Fund and Micro Projects Fund
|
Nicholas Chisholm
|
1,500
|
|
Monitoring of Irish Aid Recovery Programme, Malawi
|
Anne Conroy
|
82,773
|
|
Provision of Technical support for HIV/AIDS
|
Áine Costigan
|
49,836
|
|
External technical advice to the Fellowship Selection Committee
|
Bernie Crawford
|
3,712
|
|
Assist Irish Aid in appraising and approving proposals under the HIV /Aids Partnership Scheme Supplementary Grant
|
Bernie Crawford
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5,384
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|
Consultancy and Technical Support to the Civil Society Fund and Micro Projects Fund
|
Thomas Crowley
|
16,066
|
|
Mapping of Irish Aid Approval Processes
|
Dalberg Global Development Ad
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25,410
|
|
Provision of Public Health Specialist Support
|
Sean Drysdale
|
55,527
|
|
Support to the revision of Irish Aids Country Strategy Planning (CSP) Guidelines and Procedures
|
Kate Dyer
|
28,895
|
|
Evaluation of the Mozambique Country Programmes 2001-2006
|
Ecorys Research & Consulting
|
93,191
|
|
Consultant to Development Education Grants Committee
|
Deirdre Farrell
|
5,000
|
|
Advisory input to Irish Aid’s Project Assessment and Evaluation Group (PAEG)
|
Arthur M Fell
|
20,261
|
|
Irish Aid Management Review
|
Farrell Grant Sparks
|
92,767
|
|
Provision of Technical Support on Health and HIV/AIDS, October to December 2006
|
Margaret Fitzgerald
|
18,392
|
|
Advisory input to Irish Aid’s Project Appraisal and Evaluation Group (PAEG)
|
Margaret Fitzgerald
|
8,480
|
|
Mainstreaming; Building Strategy and Practice within Irish Aid, January to December 2006
|
Cathy Gaynor
|
4,180
|
|
Technical Consultant for the Multi-Annual Programme Scheme
|
Cathy Gaynor
|
20,429
|
|
Provision of Technical Support for Education for All June 05- Dec 06
|
Cathy Gaynor
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32,658
|
|
Provision of Technical Support for Emergency and Recovery Section, Rapid Response Initiative, August to November 2006
|
Margaret Gaynor
|
13,806
|
|
Provision of Technical Support to the Civil Society Fund and Micro Projects Fund
|
Margaret Gaynor
|
7,939
|
|
Support Irish Aid in the Areas of Vulnerability and Infrastructure
|
Margaret Gaynor
|
28,241
|
|
External Evaluator for Irish Aid for Balkans and CIS
|
John Grindle
|
8,500
|
|
Assist the Review of the Staffing Needs of the Diplomatic Missions in Programme Countries, Sierra Leone and South Africa, March-August 2006
|
John Grindle
|
15,426
|
|
Legal Advices regarding the establishment and operation of the Rapid Response Initiative
|
Grosso & Maldonado
|
2,080
|
|
Support to the Zambia/Ireland Teacher Education Initiative
|
Cathal Higgins
|
30,521
|
|
Provision of Technical Support for Education for All June 05- Dec 06
|
Cathal Higgins
|
24,746
|
|
Irish Aid Centre Public Relations and Outreach Consultant
|
Daire Higgins
|
13,200
|
|
Technical Consultant on Tsunami Response
|
Anne Holmes
|
69,579
|
|
Quality Review of Mozambique Country Strategy Programme Evaluation
|
Institute of Public Administration
|
2,904
|
|
Public Expenditure Review of the Irish Governments Support to Tsunami affected countries
|
INTRAC
|
31,181
|
|
Review of the Irish Missionary Resource Service (IMRS)
|
INTRAC
|
23,716
|
|
Mainstreaming: Building Strategy and Practice within Irish Aid, January to December 2006
|
Mary Jennings
|
3,020
|
|
Technical Consultant for the Multi-Annual Programme Scheme
|
Mary Jennings
|
28,125
|
|
Advisory input to Irish Aid’s Project Appraisal and Evaluation Group (PAEG)
|
Jim Kinsella
|
3,264
|
|
Irish Aid Seminar — Presentation on OECD/DAC Agriculture Task Team
|
Jim Kinsella
|
300
|
|
Programme of Strategic Co-operation between Irish Aid and Higher Education and Research Institutes
|
Maura Leen
|
4,396
|
|
Advisory input to Irish Aid’s Project Appraisal and Evaluation Group Jan- Dec 2006
|
Maura Leen
|
5, 371
|
|
Programme Consultancy, Central America
|
Imelda Torres Lopez
|
3,049
|
|
Evaluation of Development and Inter-Cultural Education Project (DICE)
|
Maeve Martin
|
15,000
|
|
Education for All — Quest 111
|
Mary Immaculate College
|
4,868
|
|
Programme Consultancy, Central America
|
Mary McCann Sanchez
|
46,887
|
|
Programme Consultancy in Central America 2006 — Dissemination of an Irish Aid teaching resource entitled “Our World — Our Future”
|
Owen McCarthy
|
9,065
|
|
Provision of Technical Support on Health and HIV/AIDS in area of R&D for new drugs, vaccines and micro biocides
|
Diarmuid McClean
|
106,799
|
|
Civil Society Fund and Micro Projects Fund
|
Geraldine McDonald
|
14,655
|
|
Technical Consultant for the Multi-Annual Programme Scheme, November 2006 to October 2008
|
McEvoy Peter
|
3,933
|
|
Advisory input to Irish Aid’s Project Appraisal and Evaluation Group (PAEG)
|
Hunter McGill
|
10,471
|
|
Assistant Communications Officer
|
Brid McGrath
|
46,316
|
|
Provision of Technical Support to the Civil Society Fund and Micro Projects Fund
|
Mary McKeown
|
3,000
|
|
Technical Consultant for the Multi-Annual Programme Scheme, November 2006 to October 2008
|
Mary McKeown
|
4,727
|
|
Advisory input to Irish Aid’s Project Appraisal and Evaluation Group (PAEG)
|
Mary McKeon
|
5,227
|
|
Provision of Technical Support to the Civil Society Fund and Micro Projects Fund
|
Mary McKeown
|
17,234
|
|
Advisory input to Irish Aid’s Project Appraisal and Evaluation Group (PAEG)
|
Bernard McLoughlin
|
5,525
|
|
Provision of technical expertise for private sector development in Africa
|
Kevin Moore
|
114,494
|
|
Provision of Technical Support for Education for All June 05- Dec 06
|
Patrick D. Murphy
|
8,774
|
|
Gender action planning and support to policy implementation.
|
Una Murray
|
7,519
|
|
Civil Society Fund and Micro Projects Fund
|
Una Murray
|
3,721
|
|
Irish Aid Centre, Content Consultant
|
Jill Nesbitt
|
10,000
|
|
Development Education Strategy
|
Helen Newman — Newman & Assoc
|
18,150
|
|
Provision of Technical Support on HIV/AIDS
|
Ann Nolan
|
52,432
|
|
Development of Irish Aid’s Governance Strategy for Tanzania for period 2007-2011
|
Dr. Diarmuid O’Donovan
|
4,821
|
|
Support to Irish Aid on the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB & Malaria, March ‘06 to February ‘07
|
Jerry O’Dwyer
|
37,896
|
|
Consultant to Conflict Resolution Unit March — August 2007
|
Eleanor O Gorman
|
65,493
|
|
Advisory input to Irish Aid’s Project Appraisal and Evaluation Group 2006 — 2008
|
Helen O’Neill
|
12,350
|
|
Provision of Technical Support to HIV/AIDS Advisers Meeting
|
Morina O’Neill
|
6,708
|
|
Irish Aid Centre, Content Consultant
|
Morina O’Neill
|
5,000
|
|
Provision of Audit Management Support to the Evaluation and Audit Unit September 06 — June 07,
|
Johnny O’Regan
|
75,737
|
|
Provision of Audit Management Support to the Evaluation and Audit Unit, 31 March 2007- 31 Mar 2008
|
Johnny O’Regan
|
19,764
|
|
Strategic Review of Irish Aid’s Engagement with the United Nations Funds and Programmes
|
Oxford Policy Management
|
61,316
|
|
Consultancy Support to the Irish Aid Hunger Task Force
|
Oxford Policy Management
|
5,283
|
|
Evaluation of the Irish Aid World Bank Education Trust Fund
|
Steve Packer
|
23,001
|
|
Provision of Services to Irish Aid’s Project Appraisal and Advisory Group 2006 — 2008
|
Aidan Pender
|
8,450
|
|
Independent Consultant for the Partnership Programme for Europe and Central Asia Funding Committee.
|
Ann Pesic
|
2,294
|
|
On-going support to Irish Aid funding of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Sept 06- December 07
|
Pat McMullin
|
11,928
|
|
Consultancy on Good Governance Jan–July 2007
|
James Polhemus
|
77,421
|
|
Facilitation of UN Volunteer Internship Programme Aug 06–Mar 08
|
Rothwell Performance Consulting
|
81,016
|
|
Piloting of Organisational Assessment Guidelines.
|
Rothwell Consultancy Civil Society
|
13,141
|
|
Technical Support — Information and Public Awareness
|
Daniel Rowan
|
28,314
|
|
Support to the AMAR Health Rehabilitation Project for the Marsh Arabs of Southern Iraq
|
Dr Jane Salvage
|
12,135
|
|
Rapid Response Initiative -Manager of Standby Register
|
James Saunderson
|
520
|
|
Participation at Mekong Private Sector Development Facility Planning and Review Meeting, and Vietnam Business Forum, December 2006
|
Mike Scott
|
6,357
|
|
Civil Society Fund and Micro Projects Fund, March 2007–March 2009.
|
James Sheehan
|
5,298
|
|
Provision of Technical support for HIV/AIDS June 06–June 07
|
Tara Shine
|
118,417
|
|
Country Strategic Planning Backstopping Support
|
Tara Shine
|
5,072
|
|
Implementation of the Irish Aid Environment Policy
|
Tara Shine
|
476
|
|
Provision of Technical Support for Emergency and Recovery Section, Rapid Response Initiative, August to November 2006
|
Ben Siddle
|
41,393
|
|
Civil Society Fund and Micro Projects Fund
|
Marie Smith
|
15,162
|
|
Technical Advice on Gender Equality
|
Aisling Swaine Consultancy Ltd
|
98,112
|
|
Supporting the work of the Emergency Section
|
John Telford
|
15,633
|
|
Production of publication material for communication about Irish Aid’s health programming
|
Debbie Thomas
|
10,000
|
|
Report on Staffing needs of Missions in Irish Aid Programme Countries, South Africa and Sierra Leone
|
Richard Townsend
|
8,556
|
|
MAPS 11 Civil Society Section Funding Schemes April 06 — Mar 07
|
University Of Glasgow
|
7,563
|
|
Supporting the work of the Emergency Section
|
Barnaby Willits/ John Telford
|
21,326
|
|
Advisory Services to Irish Aid’s Project Appraisal and Evaluation Group (PAEG) 2006–2008
|
Bernard Wood + Associates Ltd
|
27,137
|
|
Advisory Services to Irish Aid’s Project Appraisal and Evaluation Group (PAEG) 2006–2008
|
Hunter McGill — PAEG Const.
|
417
|
|
Advisory Services to Irish Aid’s Project Appraisal and Evaluation Group (PAEG) 2006–2008
|
Andre Barsony — PAEG
|
357
|
|
Advisory Services to Irish Aid’s Project Appraisal and Evaluation Group (PAEG) 2007
|
Art Fell
|
591
|
|
Support to the revision of Irish Aid’s Country Strategy Planning (CSP) Guidelines and Procedures
|
Kate Dyer
|
476
|
|
Provision of Technical Support on Health and HIV/AIDS March 2005 to Dec 2006
|
Kate Butcher
|
476
|
|
Services to Irish Aid’s Project Appraisal and Evaluation Group (PAEG)
|
Art Fell
|
234
|
|
Programme Consultants in Central America 2006
|
M Torrez-Lopez M McCann-Sanchez
|
3,243
|
|
Private Sector Support Aug–Nov 06
|
Kevin Moore
|
3,939
|
|
Primary Teacher Education in Uganda
|
Margaret O’Sullivan
|
145
|
|
Provision of Technical Support on Health and HIV/AIDS, October to December 2006
|
Margaret Fitzgerald
|
10,687
|
|
On-going support to Irish Aid funding of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Sept 06–December 07
|
Pat McMullin
|
4,277
|
|
Services to Irish Aid’s Project Appraisal and Evaluation Group (PAEG) 2006–2008
|
Margaret Fitzgerald
|
575
|
|
Consultancy Support to the Irish Aid Hunger Task Force
|
Nick Chisholm
|
6,408
|
|
Provision of Technical Support on HIV/AIDS, April 2007–31 July 2007.
|
Ann Nolan
|
22,241
|
|
Independent/External Mid-term Evaluation of the Justice System Programme August 2007
|
Siobhan Mulalley
|
5,197
|
|
Provision of Technical Support on Health and HIV/AIDS March 2005 to Dec 2006
|
Diarmuid O’Donnabháin,
|
280
|
|
Provision of Technical Support on Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria
|
Jeremiah O’Dwyer
|
4,328
|
|
Maintenance of DCI Spanish Language website in Central America (January to December 2007) & Promotion of the Website (February 2007)
|
Roberto ED. Martinez
|
2,186
|
