Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a Human Rights Watch report entitled Development Without Freedom How Aid Underwrites Repression in Ethiopia, which urges foreign donors to examine the ways in which the Ethiopian Government uses donor supported resources and aid as a tool to consolidate the power of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43399/10]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Ethiopia has been a priority country for Ireland's aid programme since 1994, with a clear focus on hunger and basic services for the poorest communities.

Human Rights Watch recently produced a report on development in Ethiopia. It stated that the Government has demonstrated a real commitment to economic development and has introduced the technical framework of democracy, but that civil and political rights are deteriorating.

It specifically alleged that programmes and services supported by aid donors have been manipulated for party political purposes, and referred to two programmes funded by Ireland with other donors. The productive safety net programme provides some of the most vulnerable people in Ethiopia with predictable cash or food transfers in return for work. It is protecting the lives of over 7 million people annually. The protection of basic services programme funds services at regional level, notably in health and education.

We take very seriously any allegation of misuse of funding provided under the aid programme. Irish Aid, working with other aid donors, has examined the report in detail. Our shared assessment does not support the allegation of widespread, systematic abuse of development assistance. However, we are concerned about any allegation of misuse of aid at local level.

In recent days, our ambassador has raised the allegations in the report directly with the Minister for Finance and Economic Development and emphasised the real concern in Ireland that they need to be investigated. The Minister stated that his Government is ready to investigate any allegation brought to its attention and to discuss how existing safeguards can be strengthened. We are following up at all levels so effective action is taken to provide the assurance that there is no misuse of aid and all assistance is delivered without interference to the most vulnerable communities.

Irish Aid programmes are subject to rigorous reviews and ongoing monitoring to ensure they are delivered effectively and in line with our commitment to the fight against poverty and hunger. These measures are kept under continuous review to ensure our assistance to Ethiopia is reaching the people most in need, whether it is provided directly by Irish Aid or channelled through our NGO partners.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for is reply. Does he accept that Human Rights Watch is a respectable organisation and one needs to pay serious attention to any report it produces? This report, Development without Freedom: How Aid Underwrites Repression in Ethiopia, is 105 pages. The African director of Human Rights Watch, Rona Peligal, states: "The Ethiopian Government is routinely using access to aid as a weapon to control people and crush dissent."

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy is not allowed to quote at Question Time, believe it or not.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I am just quoting from the report. It makes all sorts of allegations. Farmers are described as being denied access to agricultural assistance, micro-loans, seeds and fertilisers because they do not support the ruling party. Rural villagers reported that many families with opposition members were barred from participation in the food for work or safety net programme. There are all types of allegations.

I am not in a position to say whether these allegations are right, but they are very serious. The Minister of State is right in saying our programme in Ethiopia has been very good, but the allegations are very serious. Perhaps with his support the author of this report might be requested to attend a meeting of the Joint Committee on European Affairs so he or she may be questioned. I am not certain who the author was, and these are just quotes from the report. We could then have an opportunity to put these allegations to the person in question to see whether they can be substantiated.

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is right in saying the allegations are very serious if they were true. The essential point, however, is that our assessment from working with other donors who have conducted studies in the field do not substantiate these allegations. Indeed, the report, which I have here, makes allegations about Goal, an Irish NGO, saying that it collaborated in this practice. I understand Goal has said the allegations are utterly erroneous and has denied them. However, the development assistance group in Ethiopia carried a study of the programmes referred to in the Human Rights Watch report, post-report, and could not substantiate any evidence of widespread or systematic distortion.

That is not to say allegations of this nature should not be taken seriously. However, I take strong issue with those who would use this report to misrepresent in the media the nature of our excellent work in Ethiopia and to characterise our programmes as just giving blank cheques to the Government, when everybody in the development community knows this is simply not the case. The Minister, Deputy Martin, and I have both visited Ethiopia and seen firsthand the efficacy of the programmes, and all the evaluations and audits that are in place.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I have not been to Ethiopia, nor have I spoken to the ambassador, and I am not making allegations but rather quoting from a report compiled by a respected organisation. In view of what the Minister of State had to say about Goal, perhaps when we ask the author to come before the committee as regards the report we might ask John O'Shea to come in as well and let him stand over what is being said about Goal.

I am only interested in what the report actually said. It called on donor country legislatures and audit institutions to examine development aid to Ethiopia to ensure it is not supporting political repression. That is what I am interested in. I am not denying the good work being done. I just want to see that this matter is cleared up.

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Of course I support the Deputy's point and obviously it is a matter for the joint committee of which the Deputy is a member to offer that invitation. However, the essential point remains that our moneys are spent in a way that is rigorously monitored and reviewed. There are very strong safeguards in place which I have inspected over there. There are regular audits and independent evaluations.

We work in partnership with Government and local systems, because that is international best practice in terms of creating capacity and sustaining development in such countries. However, to use this report to characterise the nature of our programmes in a manner that is simply not in accordance with the facts is something I disagree with.

To answer the Deputy's question directly, I accept that Human Rights Watch is a reputable organisation and I agree that engagement with the joint committee could be fruitful.