Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I will share time with Senator Mullen. As one of the Senators who called for a debate on this matter I welcome this opportunity. Senator Norris has made numerous requests of the Minister of State, to which I will add two. It is important that Irish Aid and Irish development policy focuses on these two matters. I am pleased the Minister of State mentioned the reproductive health of women in developing countries, stating that 500,000 women die in childbirth or pregnancy each year. I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Comfort Momoh, an African British doctor, who has been working tirelessly to combat the effects of female genital mutilation among women from Africa in Britain. She spoke eloquently of the problems that women face in developing countries, particularly in respect of female genital mutilation and the major health risks and high mortality rate they face as a result. Irish Aid has a proud record of helping women and assisting them to improve prospects of survival in childbirth and pregnancy.

I ask that the Minister of State makes disability and development a priority in development aid. Ireland signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, one of 118 countries to do so. Unfortunately we have not ratified it and I request the Minister of State to commit to ratifying it. Article 32 of the convention requires, in particular, that states co-operate internationally in addressing the difficulties of people with disabilities. The convention recognises the clear link between disability and poverty. In keeping with Article 32, we could mainstream disability rights and issues into Irish Aid's priorities and Irish development policy. There are 600 million people with disabilities worldwide, of which 80% live in developing countries. The World Bank has estimated that those with disabilities comprise 20% of the poorest of the poor. We also know that only 2% of disabled children in developing countries receive any education. Clearly, disability and poverty have been inextricably linked. In order to tackle poverty and development we must make disability a priority.

Senator Norris referred to the World Bank. In 2002 the president of the World Bank made the point that unless disabled people are brought into the development mainstream it will be impossible to give every girl or boy the chance to achieve primary education by 2015 or cut poverty in half and thus to achieve the millennium development goals. Given that this is a key priority of Irish Aid we must address it.