Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 21, inclusive, together.

I visited South Africa between 13 and 15 January, accompanied by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Micheál Martin, and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for overseas development, Deputy Michael Kitt.

The key objectives of the visit were to further develop Irish-South African bilateral and trade relations, leading the largest ever Irish trade mission to South Africa with more than 50 companies participating including businesses from Northern Ireland, and also to visit Irish Aid funded development projects.

In Cape Town, I visited the Niall Mellon Township Trust, where I announced that the Irish Government is providing €5 million to support the work of the trust in Cape Town and Johannesburg. I also attended a reception for the Irish community in South Africa hosted by the Irish ambassador to South Africa as well as visiting a number of businesses and charitable organisations with Irish links.

In Johannesburg, I attended a breakfast organised by Tourism Ireland with the aim of promoting the image of the island of Ireland as a destination to South African tourists and business travellers. I also visited a seminar organised by An Bord Bia in the wake of the recent reopening of the South African market to Irish beef and attended a business lunch organised by Enterprise Ireland to promote and further develop Irish-South African trade links.

In Pretoria, I met with both President Mbeki and with the Deputy President. President Mbeki and I noted the positive bilateral relations between our two countries and discussed a range of political and trade and development issues. President Mbeki briefed me on the current political situation in Zimbabwe, the prospects for successful elections there and his role as mediator. We both expressed the wish for a peaceful solution to the crises facing Zimbabwe and for policy change which would ensure full respect for the human rights and dignity of its people.

I referred to the impending deployment of some 400 members of the Irish Defence Forces with the UN mandated EU military mission in Chad, and the fact that an Irishman, Lieutenant General Pat Nash, is the operational commander of that mission. I also took the opportunity to express Ireland's great admiration for South Africa's impressive achievements as a young democracy along with my personal appreciation to President Mbeki and the people of South Africa for their sensitive support for the peace process in Northern Ireland, which many of their people gave over recent years.

My subsequent meeting with the Deputy President expanded on many of the issues we discussed during her visit to Dublin in November 2006. Once again, we had a cordial and constructive discussion on a number of issues. We discussed recent progress in South Africa's economic development including in the area of education and training. I assured the Deputy President of Ireland's support for furthering skills training for young South Africans and we agreed to mutually explore ways to assist South Africa in learning from Ireland's experience in this area.

I also reaffirmed the Government's commitment to continuing to provide development assistance through our Irish Aid programmes including assistance for the major challenges posed by the effects of the HIV-AIDS pandemic. Finally, I welcomed the decision of the South African Government to reopen the market for Irish beef. I thanked the Deputy President for the political support provided on this issue and said I hoped my visit would help to further strengthen the already strong political, trade and development links between Ireland and South Africa.

On the conclusion of my visit to South Africa, I travelled to Tanzania, accompanied by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for overseas development, Deputy Michael Kitt, to see at first hand the impact of Irish Aid's development programme in that country. I visited several projects supported by Irish Aid in key areas such as health, education and agriculture. I had a wide range of contacts with people whose lives have been transformed as a result of Irish Aid support; with NGOs and others, including Irish missionaries working on the front line; with senior members of the media; and with the political leadership in Tanzania.

It was a most useful and thorough programme. I was extremely heartened to see the profound effect that targeted assistance can have on the everyday lives of some of the poorest people on the planet. For example, I witnessed the immediate impact on the health and well-being of people as a result of providing a clean fresh water supply and in the provision of badly needed health services. It was also a pleasure to meet the many Irish people delivering essential front line assistance and I would like to pay tribute to their commitment.

During my visit, I met with President Kikwete. We had a wide-ranging discussion on our respective economies in the course of which I repeated Ireland's ongoing commitment to development in Tanzania, which will involve some €170 million in direct bilateral assistance between 2007 and 2010. This year alone, the direct aid figure will be approximately €40 million. In particular, we discussed the importance of good governance for the provision of effective aid, greater trade and investment and enhanced international relations. I commended the president on the strong position he has taken on the need to tackle corruption, the action he has recently taken in this regard and the need to continue with his efforts.

We also discussed some of the challenges that exist in other parts of Africa including Zimbabwe, where the situation remains a cause for grave concern, and the more recent developments in Kenya which could have severe implications for Tanzania. I welcomed the mediation role being played by Tanzania and noted that Ireland and Tanzania share a proud tradition of peacekeeping activities. In this regard, I briefed the president on the role that Ireland will now be playing in Chad.

In conclusion, I confirmed that Tanzania is a particularly important partner in Ireland's development programme and we will continue to provide assistance in close collaboration with the Tanzanian Government to help realise the full potential of all its people.

Working through government systems is an effective approach which allows us to provide sustainable support for key sectors in partnership, and in line with the priorities of, the Tanzanian Government. Needless to say, we will also ensure that we continue to support our NGO partners in their valuable work, both in Tanzania and elsewhere.

With regard to my travel plans for 2008, I will of course attend all the European Councils during the year. I propose to travel to Slovenia, Austria and Poland next week for a series of bilateral meetings and for an engagement with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. I will make my usual annual visit to the United States for St. Patrick's Day on 17 March. I have also been invited to address the Joint Houses of Congress in the US on 30 April. In addition, I propose to attend the Fifth Summit of the Heads of State and Government of Latin America and the Caribbean and the European Union in Lima, Peru on 16 May 2008. I also propose to attend the EU-Asia Summit which will be held in Beijing, China in October 2008.

The National Forum on Europe is an independent body and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on its day-to-day operation or on its likely future work programme. I am, however, sure it will play a key role in the debate on the reform treaty in the run up to the referendum. I welcome its recent publication and the fact that it is holding public meetings around the country.

I received the first draft of the annotated draft agenda for the spring European Council recently. The launch of the new cycle for the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs, the stability of financial markets and energy and climate change policy will feature in the discussion at the spring European Council. The draft agenda was the subject of a first discussion at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on Monday.

I have no firm arrangements to meet with President Barroso ahead of seeing him at the European Council in Brussels on 13 and 14 March.

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