Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will host a conference to discuss the different options available for responding to the food crisis in the developing world in general, and Africa in particular, in order to ensure there is an adequate consideration of the different models available for the achievement of food security and appropriate commercial usage as part of a development strategy best suited to such regions. [23532/08]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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There can be no question but that the sharp escalation in the price of staple food commodities such as corn, wheat and rice is a matter for the deepest concern. These price rises are undermining the food security of many millions of individuals and communities throughout the developing world. We already had a situation where over 800 million people were food insecure. With the current price increases, this already unacceptable situation can only worsen.

We are responding with both short-term and long-term measures. In the short term, we have responded by providing a special grant of €3 million to the market mitigation account of the World Food Programme, the specialised agency of the UN system which is tasked with providing food aid to those most in need.

We are also responding in our programme countries in trying to promote food security for those communities most vulnerable to price shocks. Ethiopia is probably the programme country most deeply affected by food insecurity. There we have increased our support to the social safety nets programme by 25% to €11 million this year. This programme is seeking to prevent over 7 million people from tipping over the edge into destitution and starvation.

In the longer term, the crisis triggered by escalating food prices has underscored the importance of the work of our hunger task force. The task force is chaired by our colleague, the former Minister for Agriculture and Food, Joe Walsh, and has high-profile national and international experts among its membership. I look forward to receiving its recommendations in due course. I expect they will be a guide to our longer-term response to this crisis and to the issue of livelihoods more generally.

As regards convening a conference in Ireland to discuss the issue of food insecurity, the Deputy will be aware the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation has already convened a special high level conference on world food security, entitled "The Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy". This conference was held in Rome between 3 and 5 June and our delegation was led by my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The Rome high level conference adopted by consensus a declaration where the member states pledged themselves to embrace food security as a matter of permanent national policy and renewed their commitment to achieving the millennium development goals. The full text of that declaration is available in the Library. There is a further high level discussion to be hosted by the French EU Presidency, the Commission and the Parliament, scheduled to be held in Brussels on 3 July, on the issue of sustainable agriculture as a driver of development. In the circumstances, I do not think that any further conference convened by Ireland would provide added value.

We will continue to play our part in addressing the food issue through working with the international community to strengthen efforts to address the root causes of hunger as well as alleviating the immediate consequences of the current shortages. As I mentioned, I also await the report of our own hunger task force.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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I wish the Minister of State every success with his new responsibilities and I appreciate his reply. The question I tabled contains two basic elements. First, I entirely support what the Minister of State said about increasing technical and practical assistance under the UN World Food Programme, particularly to Ethiopia where millions of people are threatened. The second element concerns a food security strategy based on appropriate agricultural production models. In its 2007 report, the World Bank acknowledged that its approach to agriculture has been unsuccessful. In fact, the word "failed" is used in the text. It neglected agriculture in the context of competing economic models in Africa in particular. One model, which has failed, involves supplying increasing agricultural output based on markets created by migration to cities. A different model exists in West Africa where 80% of the increase in agricultural production has been brought about by people working on small plots with a hoe.

There are three reasons for such a conference to discuss options to respond to the food crisis. One is that the European Union supplies 48% of all the aid in the world. Second, Ireland is a lead country in the debate, not just on emergency food aid but also food security. Third, intellectual and practical NGO and State involvement is needed in a debate on the various models of food security, particularly in Africa.

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his supplementary question. I share his deep concern on this issue, not least because the problem of rising food prices has the capacity to undermine the whole international aid effort. In the first instance, we must examine the causes of the current situation, some of which are man-made and others natural. The man-made aspects of this situation are interesting. They include the increased consumption of higher value foods in places such China and India, which is beginning to take from traditional markets and production areas. In itself, that is a man-made aspect. In addition there are natural disasters and climate change. Sometimes, those who are least to blame for climate change are regrettably the first to suffer from its effects.

As regards the strategies to be adopted, our policy programme recognises the importance of agriculture which is enshrined in a White Paper on aid. I referred to the FAO conference in Rome and I understand the incoming French EU Presidency intends to hold a conference of this nature at its earliest convenience, although I do not have the full details to hand. Because this is essentially a global issue, it requires a global response. We must work together and the fora through which we can progress this matter include the EU Development and Foreign Ministers' Councils and the United Nations.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Flexibility must be afforded to African countries in terms of the WTO. The Minister and the Minister of State both appreciate the importance of integrated thinking between trade and development. It is important, however, that African countries should be allowed to apply tariffs and subsidies to create food security. For example, Asian rice is being dumped in Africa where production of upland rice is forbidden by trade restrictions. In addition, African farmers are not allowed to produce chickens, while Germany exports large quantities of chicken portions to Africa. This makes no sense in food-insecure countries. Does the Government favour an integrated approach to allow adjustments in trade regulations in the multilateral institutions, thus saving the development intention?

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I accept the Deputy's thesis that there is a connection between food shortages, agriculture and trade. The WTO talks provide the opportunity to progress this issue. As part of our input into the negotiations at European level, one of our primary concerns has been, and will continue to be, to ensure that the food security and supply of developing countries, but particularly African ones, will be recognised and enshrined in any comprehensive future agreement.