Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

All of that has happened. The evaluation and audit unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not only conducted an evaluation and examination of the position in Uganda but has also looked at the position in our other partner countries, eight of the nine of which are in Africa, while the ninth is Vietnam. As a result of the fraud uncovered, we have taken a very deliberate step to avoid engagement with the Ugandan Government. Part of the funding goes directly through the Irish Embassy to the various projects in Uganda in which we are engaged.

We are engaged very much in addressing education, HIV-Aids, gender-based violence, governance and livelihood projects. The funding goes to the poorest areas in the country either directly through the Irish Embassy in Uganda or through a number of trusted NGOs. Our NGOs are carefully monitored and evaluated. An NGO that receives more than €100,000 in funding from the Government must provide an annual report and give a clear account through a memorandum of understanding, which it has signed with Irish Aid in advance. There has to be transparency and accountability about the use of the money. Salaries in excess of €70,000 must be made public. That could be a good model of behaviour for all charitable organisations regarding how to deal in a transparent and accountable way with the salaries they give to their senior staff.

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