Results 5,021-5,040 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (13 Jul 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The practice of female genital mutilation is a clear violation of the human rights of women and girls. It also infringes on children's rights to special protection. The World Health Organisation estimates that between 100 million and 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of female genital mutilation. In Africa alone, it is estimated that three...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (13 Jul 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: For 2011, Ireland will provide a total of €659 million in Official Development Assistance (ODA). Of this funding, €524 million will be administered by Irish Aid, in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which manages the Government's aid programme. The remaining €135 million is accounted for by contributions to international development by other Government Departments and by...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (14 Jul 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 56 together. The building of health services is an important element of the Government's aid programme, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Our support is aimed at ensuring sustainable provision of essential basic care to those most in need. Irish Aid works with a range of partners, including the Health...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (20 Jul 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Horn of Africa is experiencing the most severe food crisis in the world today. Between ten and twelve million people are severely affected in drought-stricken areas of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda – a thirty percent increase since the beginning of the year. The immediate cause of the crisis is a prolonged drought and the failure of at least two seasonal rains, with the...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (14 Sep 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 27 together. Ireland's total contribution to Official Development Assistance (ODA) will amount to €659 million in 2011. €524 million of this funding will be planned and managed by Irish Aid, in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Some €135 million is accounted for by contributions of other Government Departments and by Ireland's share of...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (22 Sep 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government's aid programme, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is sharply focused on the fight against global poverty and hunger. Cooperation with development Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) represents a very important element of the aid programme. Ireland has consistently channelled a higher proportion of its overall development...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Sep 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland's overseas aid programme, which is a central element in our foreign policy. The programme is recognised internationally for its strong focus on the fight against poverty and hunger, and its concentration on the poorest countries and communities of sub-Saharan Africa. The amounts provided for Ireland's Official Development Assistance (ODA) over...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (27 Sep 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Through the Irish Aid programme of overseas development assistance, the Government provides significant funding assistance to the Palestinian people. In 2010, Irish Aid provided €9 million to address humanitarian and development needs, provide emergency assistance to the most vulnerable Palestinians, and support the Palestinian Authority in public service delivery. We also provide funding...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 Sep 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland's overseas development programme, which is central to our foreign policy. The programme is clearly focused on the fight against extreme poverty and hunger, and concentrated in some of the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The Programme for Government underlines our commitment to the UN target of spending 0.7% of Gross National Product...

Overseas Development Aid (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The appalling situation in the Horn of Africa highlights the importance of planning longer-term solutions to the problem of hunger in developing countries. This is exemplified by the effect of the crisis on Ethiopia and Somalia. Somalia, which has been wracked by conflict for two decades, is reeling from the ravages of the drought. Ethiopia, which has a stable Government and a strong...

Overseas Development Aid (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: We can raise our voices in all the international forums at which we are represented, including the foreign ministers' forum, which the Tánaiste attends, the development ministers' forum, which I attend, and the UN agencies. We have consistently raised our voices at international level. At the recent meeting of development ministers in Poland, I raised the need for a co-ordinated response...

Overseas Development Aid (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I understand that a total of $1.8 billion has been contributed as part of the international response. The UN has identified that a further $700 million will be required by the end of the year. The Deputy is right to suggest that some countries, including Ireland, have had a strong response whereas many other countries have had a relatively weak response. We need to continue to raise this...

Overseas Development Aid (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: We are in ongoing discussions with those bodies to ensure such solutions are provided. The very fact that they are among the small number of international non-governmental organisations that are actually allowed into parts of Somalia is an indication that they are there for the long haul. They have been working there for a long time.

Overseas Development Aid (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Public support and engagement are essential for the successful delivery of the Government's aid programme which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The principles that guide the programme are set out in the White Paper on Irish Aid. Transparency and public ownership are central. They ensure our assistance delivers clear results in the lives of poor...

Overseas Development Aid (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The public consultation process will mainly take place in the early part of next year. I would certainly welcome any suggestions on how we can make sure the process is as inclusive as possible. If there are any suggestions from Deputies on the other side of the House, we would be very glad to take them on board, because we want to make sure this engages the Irish public. The Deputy is...

Overseas Development Aid (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: We obviously support the concept fully and I would be happy to engage with our partner countries to ensure this. We already provide support for the strengthening of parliamentary systems and the various other civil society systems in our programme countries to ensure there is public participation. I would be happy to strengthen that in whatever way we can, including parliamentary oversight,...

Overseas Development Aid (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: We raise human rights issues constantly with our partner countries, either through Irish Aid officials or through Ministers and Ministers of State who visit, including myself. We will continue to do that. If we were to withdraw all our funding from a particular country due to human rights issues, then we would be depriving the poorest of the poor people in those countries. We need to make...

Africa Strategy (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 89 together. On 13 September, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade launched a new Africa strategy for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The strategy is titled Ireland and Africa; Our Partnership with a Changing Continent. It was launched at the first ever Africa – Ireland economic forum, which was organised by the...

Africa Strategy (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Deputy's suggestion that we have a debate in the Chamber is a good one. I will speak to the Government Whip to try to arrange a time for such a discussion as the more engagement Members have on the strategy, the better. On ensuring the development programme is supported in all other European countries, this issue was debated at one of the meetings of development ministers when one of my...

International Agreements (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The millennium development goals, MDGs, were adopted by world leaders at the United Nations in 2000. They set out specific targets for reducing global poverty, hunger, disease and inequality, and provide the framework for international development up to 2015. The planned MDG special event in 2013 is part of an ongoing process of review and assessment of their implementation. It will build...