Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Is he concerned that many of the eight millennium development goals will not be reached in Africa? Perhaps the Minister of State can give me the information again in another way. While progress is made in universal primary education, the level of funds required is greater than the funds pledged. In the case of some of the millennium development goals, including HIV and AIDS, the amount of money delivered is less than 40% of what is required to achieve them.

The Minister of State referred to NEPAD, or local capacity within the countries to achieve the seed money necessary for development. If these countries live on less than $1 per day, 70% of the population lives on less than $2 per day, and $0.77 is required for survival, how can NEPAD realistically suggest that 12% of the basic funding for development should come from the home community? Does the Minister of State agree that NEPADs projections are unrealistic?

Does the Minister of State envisage many additional staff being required to implement this side of the programme, both in a bilateral and multilateral sense? He would have my support for that. I suggest an increase in staffing will be required if he will not have a set of contract relationships with the receiving countries. They are less beneficial than the type of structures needed for development economics and human rights.

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