Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 October 2013
55. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Danish Government is publishing a strategic framework for Danish involvement in EU development policy in October; and if his Department has plans to produce a policy paper which explicitly states the reason and the way Ireland spends aid via the EU. [41148/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast May, the Government launched Ireland’s new development policy “One World, One Future” setting out the vision, goals and priorities for our overseas aid programme over the coming four years. The new policy, which was published following a very extensive public consultation process, reaffirms Ireland’s strong support for multilateral efforts, recognising that global challenges require global solutions. Our membership of the EU, which provides over 50% of global development aid, enables our collective development efforts to have greater impact and reach. Given the EU’s central role in international development, we recognise the value of influencing EU policy and are playing our part in ensuring that the EU continues to deliver aid that is effective and assists those most in need.
The new policy also commits Irish Aid to reviewing the range of our funding for multilateral organisations, including the EU, to ensure that it is as effective as possible and that it is fully aligned with our goals. In the context of carrying out this review, we will be drawing on the body of recent work carried by international partners including the Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN) and the strategic framework for Danish involvement in EU development which I understand is being published today by the Danish Government.
Last year, Ireland contributed €99.6 million to the EU development budget through assessed contributions of €29.2 million to the European Development Fund, which covers African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and €70.4 million to the EU’s general budget, which broadly covers development co-operation in other regions of the world.
