Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Mitchell for raising this issue and allowing me to put on the record of the House the Government's welcome of the designation of 2015 by the EU Foreign Affairs Council as European Year of Development.

This year is a hugely important year for development as it coincides with important intergovernmental negotiations on development and climate change which will take place during the course of 2015. Negotiations will conclude in September on a set of sustainable development goals, SDGs, to be adopted by a summit of world leaders at the UN in New York in the Autumn. The goals will be negotiated and agreed by the world's 193 countries and cover every area relevant to human well-being and development, including poverty and hunger, health and education, employment and environmental degradation. Ireland is at the heart of this process, following its appointment as co-facilitator with Kenya on the intergovernmental negotiations to agree these goals. This is testament to Ireland's standing internationally, to our proud record of development, our promotion of human rights, our long-standing participation in peacekeeping across the world and to our diplomacy. Our appointment reflects just how integral development is to our foreign policy. Only last week, we published a review of our foreign policy, The Global Island: Ireland's Foreign Policy for a Changing World. This places a strong emphasis on our values as a people and our actions to build a fairer, more just, secure and sustainable world. It recognises the centrality of our international development policy, One World, One Future and our aid programme, Irish Aid, in achieving this.

We are confident that the new sustainable development goals will have a profound impact on the lives of the world's poor. These processes will also garner huge national and international attention and it is intended to use this to promote further the messages of global citizenship, solidarity and responsibility that are integral to the European Year of Development. The European Year of Development aims to inform EU citizens about EU and member states' development co-operation, encourage active interest and direct involvement of citizens in development issues and raise awareness of the benefits of EU development co-operation. Ireland, along with all EU member states, will undertake key activities to support the European Year of Development.

I acknowledge the long-standing programme of activity on the part of Deputy Mitchell through a number of organisations down through the years on this issue, and her record of raising it in this House and beyond. The Deputy will be aware that Dóchas, the umbrella group for Irish development, humanitarian and global justice organisations, was nominated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to co-ordinate the Irish action plan for the European Year of Development, in recognition of the extremely close co-operation between our official aid programme and the NGO sector in Ireland. In response to the Deputy's direct question, funding has been made available for our national campaign in that regard.

To launch the European Year of Development, a special conference was, as mentioned by Deputy Mitchell, held in Dublin Castle today. The conference was opened by President Michael D. Higgins, who spoke of the need to develop a deeper understanding of global issues and development. It also included excellent discussions and debate on sustainable development involving the Minister of State with responsibility for development, Deputy Sherlock, representatives from civil society, representatives of the African community in Ireland, the private sector and youth groups. In its capacity as national co-ordinator, Dóchas will ensure key events during 2015, such as Africa Day and One World Week, include targeted activities to promote the European Year of Development, and engage with the public on issues of poverty, hunger, inequality and social justice. In addition, my Department will continue to use our established methods of communication and public outreach to share the messages of the European Year of Development. These include a very active online presence through the Irish Aid website and social media platforms, public outreach events such as Africa Day, the Ploughing Championships and BT Young Scientist and engaging with students, teachers and volunteers through our various workshops and volunteering fairs.

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