Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 May 2012
120 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his commitment to reducing hunger in the global south is compatible with his efforts to promote the sale of Irish food and drink products in Africa; and if local production is being displaced by these Irish exports. [25357/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraCombating global hunger and undernutrition is a central pillar of the Government's overseas development programme. We are making good progress on the implementation of the recommendations of the 2008 report of the Government's Hunger Task Force. Just last week, the Tánaiste and I announced that we have delivered on the commitment to direct at least 20 per cent of the Irish Aid budget to actions and programmes to reduce hunger. Reaching this target has involved a reorientation of elements of the development programme to ensure a stronger hunger response at country level and globally. The Africa Strategy of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which we launched last September, aims to build a more coherent approach to Ireland's relations with Africa, across all sectors: development, political and the establishment of closer economic and trade links. This includes the encouragement of indigenous African production in the food sector, leading to a growth in African exports and increased two-way trade. The establishment of an Africa Agri-Food Development Fund, which was launched jointly by the Tánaiste and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine in March, builds on this commitment and on the recommendations of the Hunger Task Force Report. It aims to involve the Irish private sector in greater trade and in investment in food production and processing in Africa. We believe that the private sector in Ireland has the potential to bring a wealth of expertise and technical knowhow to the Agri-Food sector in Africa.
A technical mission, which included representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and Enterprise Ireland, visited Kenya and Tanzania last month. It confirmed the potential for the Fund in a changing Africa and identified a number of opportunities which will be presented to the Irish Agri-Food sector for their consideration in the coming weeks.
In both Kenya and Tanzania, food needs are increasing due to population growth and rapid urbanisation, and local production is unable to meet the growing demand. As Irish companies increase their trade with Africa, we anticipate that they will also explore opportunities for new investment with African partners, creating the potential to generate much needed jobs and economic growth. This approach reflects our commitment to working with our African partners to end extreme poverty and hunger and promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth and opportunity.
