Results 801-820 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (30 Jan 2008)

Michael Kitt: I propose to take Questions Nos. 578 and 579 together. Most of Ireland's expenditure on Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) is provided under Vote 29, International Cooperation. The programme is administered by the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, also known as Irish Aid. The Government has provided a total allocation of €814 million to Vote 29 for...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (30 Jan 2008)

Michael Kitt: Education is a key component of Ireland's overseas development aid programme. This focus was reiterated in the White Paper on Irish Aid in 2006 which states that 'Education is the primary vehicle by which economically and socially marginalised adults and children can lift themselves out of poverty'. In 2007 Irish Aid, the Government's official aid programme, expended approximately €65...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (30 Jan 2008)

Michael Kitt: The Taoiseach visited South Africa and Tanzania from 13 to 18 January. He was accompanied by the Minister for Trade and Enterprise, Michéal Martin, T.D. and the Minister of State for Overseas Aid, Michael Kitt, T.D. The key objectives of the visit were to further develop Irish–South African bilateral and trade relations, and to visit Irish Aid funded development projects and programmes in...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (30 Jan 2008)

Michael Kitt: Heavy rains and storms since the beginning of December 2007 have caused severe flooding in southern Africa, including Zambia. A UN Preliminary Emergency Appeal for the region has been issued and a Revised Emergency Appeal, providing a more detailed operational plan will be completed shortly. World Food Programme (WFP) staff are currently on the ground, carrying out this assessment. Good...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (30 Jan 2008)

Michael Kitt: The Evaluation and Audit Unit conducted a review of the implementation of a training programme for staff working with young adults with disabilities in a dedicated residential centre in Techirghiol, Romania. A number of recommendations were made to strengthen the programme, including the performance of a comprehensive needs analysis of the residents of the centre. Health Action Overseas has...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (5 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: The Government is committed to expanding Ireland's Overseas Aid programme. We have set a target of spending 0.7% of GNP on Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) by 2012 and we are well on track to meeting this UN target. For 2008 the Government has allocated €914 million to ODA. The majority of this funding — €814 million — comes under Vote 29, International Cooperation, which is...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (5 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 and 390 to 392, inclusive, together. In 2008 Ireland's spending on Overseas Development Aid (ODA) will reach €914 million. This level of expenditure, the highest in the history of the programme, represents 0.54 % of GNP. It will ensure that Ireland remains one of the most generous donors in the world on a per capita basis. We are well on track to meeting...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (5 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: The Government's official programme of development assistance, Irish Aid, has as its primary aim the reduction of poverty. Africa is the primary geographic focus of Irish Aid. The White Paper on Irish Aid sets out the principles and policies underlying the aid programme. It outlines the vision for the future and a number of key initiatives. The White Paper was the subject of extensive...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (5 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: Ireland provides development support to some of the poorest countries in the world, some of which are ranked as having a significant level of corruption. Working in countries with corruption and weak governance generates a risk for donors, including Ireland. Corruption affects the poorest in society. We are committed to addressing it through improving transparency and accountability,...

Written Answers — Rapid Response Corps: Rapid Response Corps (5 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: Sixty four volunteers were invited to become members of the Rapid Response Corps in 2007 following a rigorous selection and interview process. Fifty two of this group completed their pre-departure training and checks in the past year, and seven of those have already been deployed to various humanitarian crises worldwide. A further member will be deployed shortly. A new campaign to recruit...

Election Observation Missions. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: The Government has a long-standing policy of responding to requests for election observers in as positive a manner as possible. Over the last ten years, Ireland has participated in over 80 missions and has fielded more than 750 election observers. The election observation mission programme is run by the volunteering unit in the development co-operation division of my Department. This is...

Election Observation Missions. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: I agree with the Deputy. There were two elections in Kenya and Georgia over the Christmas period which were of great interest to our Department. Due to the uncertainty regarding the timing of the Kenyan elections, its long history of political stability and the short notification we received, it was decided that the elections in Georgia would be prioritised. The election results in Georgia...

Election Observation Missions. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: I agree with the point made by the Deputy. However, we must be asked to participate in monitoring elections and once an invitation is received from the EU, the OSCE or the UN volunteers programme, we make a decision on how best to respond to the invitation. We try to do that as quickly as possible. I would like to include parliamentary representation where possible and to have a good...

Irish Aid. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: The White Paper on Irish Aid included a commitment to establish a new interdepartmental committee on development to strengthen coherence in the Government's approach to development and to make best use of the expertise and skills available across the public service. I am pleased to say that, in line with that commitment, an interdepartmental committee on development has been established. It...

Irish Aid. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: The board and the committee have essentially advisory roles but this is not to underestimate their influence. Their recommendations to the Minister for Foreign Affairs draw on a wide range of input and expertise and they feed directly into the work of Irish Aid. On the question of projects, at present the advisory board is at the United Nations in New York. We are very grateful to its...

Irish Aid. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: There was a White Paper——

Irish Aid. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: ——commitment, to which the Deputy referred. This issue has to do with coherence. The interdepartmental committee is open to all Departments with a role in development plans, including the Departments of Finance, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Health and Children.

Irish Aid. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: It is about coherence and these Departments working together. The advisory board comes before the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs with reports and we have an opportunity to meet its members at such committee meetings.

Overseas Development Aid. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: Seasonal rains caused flooding and landslides in central and east Java in December 2007 and January 2008, with reports of about 118 deaths. Relief activities were principally conducted by the Indonesian authorities, including the national agency for search and rescue, provincial and district co-ordination units for disaster management and the Indonesian Department of Health. The Indonesian...

Overseas Development Aid. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: Irish Aid provided €52 million as part of the CERF. Of the €20 million contributed to the tsunami relief effort, €6.4 million was allocated directly to Indonesia and a further €5.6 million to the south Asia region, including Indonesia. A special envoy, Chris Flood, was appointed and he visited the country twice in the aftermath of the disaster. The Irish people provided almost...