Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for ensuring that the traditional Irish commitment to aid was maintained in the budget in so far as this was possible in our current straitened circumstances. Although the overseas aid budget has been reduced in recent years it has not decreased as rapidly as many other programmes, in recognition of the fact that many people around the world are worse off than us.

Deputy Crowe raised the issue of trade. While I do not think the shift in emphasis should give rise to conflict, concerns have been expressed about EU policies such as the raw materials initiative and economic partnership agreements. It has been suggested that agreements like these, to which we are party as EU members, are designed to meet the needs of Europe rather the countries with which we sign partnerships. We should be conscious that we do not work to opposing purposes by offering aid on the one hand while signing agreements that are not to partner countries' advantage on the other.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I ask the Minister about the emphasis on maternal health and population issues in our aid programme. I have heard several people complain that our One World document has not received sufficient attention in our goals but it is mentioned in the important part of the document, namely, essential services. As that is a less aspirational aspect it might produce the goods at the end of the day. It is mentioned twice, in the context of the Cairo agreement on reproductive health care and access to contraceptive services, respectively. The next step is to ensure the implementation programme sets out concrete actions. I rely on the Minister of State to ensure that will be the case. I made representations to him in advance of the Council meeting to ensure that the positive Cairo agreement language on maternal health was included and I was pleased to see that it was.

The section on the rapid response initiative refers to fragile states and the continued deployment of highly skilled personnel and emergency supplies. I remind the Minister of State that, for women in conflict situations, emergency supplies often include contraceptives. This is particularly important now that rape appears to have become a common weapon of war. We must work with NGOs to ensure they appreciate the importance of contraceptives. I recognise that food, water and shelter are primary considerations but the availability of contraceptives is also important to many women because the normal supply chains disappear in conflict situations.

I ask for clarification on the implementation document. I thought the Minister of State referred to a 36 page document but he went on to say he was about to begin the consultation phase. I must have gotten mixed up.