Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2019
140. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if funding was provided in 2018 to support the work of the United Nations population fund in humanitarian settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7037/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a long standing supporter of UNFPA. We provide non-earmarked core funding to the agency on an annual basis and intend to continue this in 2019.
Between 1990 and 2015, maternal mortality was reduced by 44%, yet approximately 830 women die each day from preventable causes related to maternal and child health. Virtually all maternal deaths occur in developing countries; more than half of maternal deaths occur in fragile and humanitarian settings. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) works in development and humanitarian contexts to deliver lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services in order to respond to the impacts of poverty, inequality, and humanitarian emergencies.
In 2018, my Department provided €3,500,000 to UNFPA, an increase of €700,000 on our 2017 core contribution. As the Tánaiste outlined in his speech at the launch of the UNFPA’s State of the World Population Report in October 2018, Ireland is proud to be a consistent supporter of UNFPA. Since 2006 we have provided funding of around €55 million to the Population Fund, the majority of which is core funding. Ireland values the important work of UNFPA and is committed to core funding on the principle that this allows the agency to set their priorities and plan according to need which is, we believe, critical to the on-the-ground delivery of results in complex contexts.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is not currently providing additional funding to the UNFPA’s Humanitarian Appeal and no decision to fund this specific programme in 2019 has been taken to date.
