Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

I thank the Deputies for their remarks. These are issues of life and death for mothers and children. Maternal, child care and gender issues have always been central to the Irish Aid programme and will continue to be so while I am Minister of State. We have a key role in preparing for the post-2015 millennium development goals. The review will start during our Presidency and the first summit meeting will take place in New York in September 2015. We are charged with developing a common European Union negotiating position. It will be done during our Presidency and agreed at the Council meetings during the Presidency. This will be the basis for the negotiations to begin in September 2013, which will continue until September 2015. The post-millennium development goals will be the second stage. We are in a position to play a key role in that respect and we note that the fifth millennium development goal, concerning reproductive health and maternal child care, is the one that has been least developed to a successful degree. It is an area to which we will pay particular attention.

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