Results 261-280 of 881 for speaker:Peter Power

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (24 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: The core objective of Ireland's aid programme is to contribute to the elimination of extreme poverty and hunger. The programme, which is administered by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs, is sharply focused on the least developed countries, in particular in sub-Saharan Africa. We have long term strategic programmes in nine priority countries, and also work in close cooperation...

Written Answers — Security of Aid Workers: Security of Aid Workers (19 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 121 together. The welcome release on 11 November of Fr Michael Sinnott after 32 days held captive by kidnappers on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines is yet another reminder of the commitment and sacrifice that aid workers and missionaries make in providing assistance to the most vulnerable across the developing world, particularly in conflict...

Written Answers — Debt Relief: Debt Relief (19 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: Ireland has played an important role internationally on the issue of alleviation of the debt burden on developing countries. The Government's policy strategy was prepared jointly by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Finance, and was launched in 2002. It supports the total cancellation of the debts of the world's poorest countries. A joint review of the strategy is...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 99 together. The Government provides assistance through the aid programme to over ninety countries worldwide. Nine have been designated as Programme Countries, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance. These are Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Vietnam and Timor Leste. Irish Aid provided direct...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: In 2008, Ireland spent €920 million on Official Development Assistance (ODA). This represented approximately 0.59 % of our Gross National Product (GNP). For 2009 the total budget for ODA is expected to reach €696 million. Based on current projections this will represent at least 0.48% of Gross National Product (GNP). This means that Ireland will remain one of the most generous donors in...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 92 together. The UN Secretary General has rightly described climate change as the greatest humanitarian challenge facing the world today. The communities which have been most severely affected by climate change to date have been those in the world's poorest countries. Through Ireland's work in developing countries we can see clearly that they are...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: In 2009 the total budget for ODA is expected to reach €696 million. Based on current projections this will represent at least 0.48% of GNP and will maintain Ireland's international ranking as one of the most generous donors in the world on a per capita basis. As the Deputy is aware, the Government has established a target of spending 0.7% of GNP on ODA by 2012. We fully acknowledge that...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: The Government are committed to giving effect to the recommendations of the 2008 report of the Hunger Task Force which we commissioned and which was launched by the Taoiseach at the UN in New York in September 2008 in the presence of UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon. In particular, we are working on the three priority areas identified, namely, increasing smallholder agricultural productivity...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of Vote 29 – International Co-operation is set out in tabular form as follows: Year Expenditure on Consultancies 2007 €4.25 million 2008 €4.65 million 2009 (to date) €1.25 million I am very conscious of the need to achieve value for money on consultancy expenditures. Irish Aid consultancy services are commissioned where...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: China's overseas aid and investment in Africa has increased substantially in the past decade, and this has presented an opportunity for developing countries in Africa to progress towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. This is to be welcomed. I am aware, however, of the apparent contrast between what has been perceived as the commercial focus of China's policy in relation...

Written Answers — Protection of Aid Workers: Protection of Aid Workers (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together. The welcome release on 11 November of Fr Michael Sinnott after 32 days held captive by kidnappers on the island of Mindanoa in the Philippines is yet another reminder of the commitment and sacrifice that aid workers and missionaries make in providing assistance to the most vulnerable across the developing world, particularly in conflict...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: The European Union and United Nations have provided international leadership in the global response to HIV and AIDS. Their respected track record of action in Africa reflects their commitment to deliver on a number of high profile pledges to support those countries most affected by the pandemic, the majority of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. The EU and UN have a strong history of effective...

Humanitarian Aid. (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: I agree with Deputy Higgins that the loss of life, currently 144, somehow masks the many thousands of people who have been displaced. That is one of the real issues in terms of aid. I acknowledge Deputy Higgins's long-standing interest in this area, especially at the time of the civil war in the 1980s and 1990s. This type of humanitarian disaster underscores the importance of pre-positioned...

Humanitarian Aid. (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: I can confirm that.

Overseas Development Aid. (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 82 together. The Government's partnership with development non-governmental organisations, NGOs, and missionaries represents a very important element of the development co-operation programme administered by Irish Aid. The OECD has confirmed that the proportion of funding channelled by Irish Aid through NGOs is higher than for any other international...

Overseas Development Aid. (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: I agree with Deputy Deasy's comments about the very good work that has been carried out, but I repeat what I said last week at the Joint Committee on European Affairs to the effect that I cannot accept the suggestion that Irish Aid officials have been slow or not exemplary in the carrying out of their duties. Irish Aid has been described by the OECD as one of the most efficient and effective...

Overseas Development Aid. (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: I share Deputy Deasy's view that this should be dealt with expeditiously. As I mentioned in my formal reply, we disburse well over €100 million to non-governmental organisations, which carry out excellent work on the ground. However, the bottom line is that the Minister and the Secretary General of the Department are accountable for every single euro of Irish taxpayers' money that is...

Overseas Development Aid. (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: I fully agree with Deputy Higgins. Despite the real challenges we faced to our budget last year, I still insisted on pursuing an important initiative, namely, the junior professional internship initiative, whereby young professional people who are highly qualified with a real interest in this area are placed in the Irish Aid programme. The reason to do so is the need to instil and inculcate...

Overseas Development Aid. (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: As Deputy Higgins will be aware, last year Ireland spent €920 million on official development assistance, ODA. This represented approximately 0.59% of our gross national product and placed Ireland as one of the most generous donor countries in the world on a per capita basis. In 2009, the Government was faced with the regrettable, but unavoidable, decision to reduce its allocation to ODA....

Overseas Development Aid. (18 Nov 2009)

Peter Power: I assure the Deputy that my aim, and that of the Minister, is to protect the aid budget and aid programme to the maximum possible extent in the context of the budgetary process that is under way. I simply cannot give another response to the Deputy, other than to say that we remain committed to reaching 0.7% of GNP on ODA levels. The sum of 0.7% of an economy that is faltering and...