Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I have discussed this issue a number of times with John O'Shea of GOAL and other agencies. I have discussed it with Mr. O'Shea more than anyone else and I have great regard for his efforts and commitment. Anyone who meets him will appreciate that. He has a particular issue with Uganda. We note that and the people involved in it. On the whole Irish Aid programme, the senior official who heads the initiative outside Ireland has vast experience in working with the United Nations. We take these issues very seriously.

One advantage for Ireland — I take nothing for granted and we always have to be careful — is that our aid is untied, which means it is directly targeted towards individual programmes. We are getting the aid directly to the people on the ground, both religious and missionaries from times past and increasingly NGOs in current times. Much of our aid goes, too, from UN organisations, in which case the control is not as direct. However, I am assured that every consideration and effort is made. Nonetheless, we are dealing with difficult enough regimes and positions. The budget now is very large and the section is growing. These issues are debated in a committee of the Houses and there is more focus on this area. Because of the substantial amounts of money involved, the position is not like it was ten years ago so we have to watch the situation carefully. As regards Irish Aid, we have a good reputation. I very much favour those programmes where we can intervene directly through our people on the ground. I am not saying there is anything wrong with the manner in which aid is distributed through the UN agencies, but we do not have direct control and involvement.

Direct involvement means people on the ground and that is not always possible. The €9 million initiative is one programme that is very much Irish orientated. People are out there all year making plans in that regard. That is not the only one and there are other programmes involving people on the ground, which we can control because of the presence of Irish committees. I prefer that model because control is not moved away from us. The entire aid programme is something we are very conscious of because the moneys and resources involved are very substantial. It is difficult to keep a direct handle on it, but every effort is being made to do that.

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