12 Samh 2012, 15:42
The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade will discuss the misappropriation of aid funds in Uganda when it meets with the Director General of Irish Aid, Brendan Rogers and his officials tomorrow, 13th November 2012.
Committee Chairman, Pat Breen TD said: “Last month, allegations emerged of the misappropriation of Irish Aid funds in the Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda.
On foot of these allegations, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore TD immediately suspended all Irish assistance channelled through the Government of Uganda and sent a team of officials, led by the Evaluation and Audit Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs, to investigate the issue. Irish Aid Director General Brendan Rogers was among those who went to Uganda to assess the situation. Tomorrow, we will have an opportunity to hear from Mr Rogers on the investigation that was carried out and members will be keen to discuss the findings of that inquiry.
This committee has an important remit in scrutinising the way the funding for humanitarian relief and longer term development assistance is spent and our meeting tomorrow will enable us to examine this particular incident.
Any misappropriation of aid funds is a matter of serious concern and is deeply disturbing. Not only does it divert aid from those who really need help and assistance, it also undermines public confidence in our aid programmes which are held in high regard internationally.
We will continue to work with the Department and Irish Aid to ensure that the Government’s aid programmes are based on a performance-focused and results-based approach.”
This meeting will start in Committee Room 1, Leinster House at 11.30am tomorrow, 13th November 2012.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Seán Crowe, TD
Pat Breen, TD (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Olivia Mitchell, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Gerald Nash, TD
Dan Neville, TD
Maureen O’Sullivan, TD
Brendan Smith, TD
Senators
Deirdre Clune,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Michael Mullins,
David Norris,
Jim Walsh.