Results 12,461-12,480 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (9 Nov 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Ireland's overseas development programme, managed by my Department, has an enviable international reputation and is rightly recognised as one of the best in the world. Its priority is the fight against extreme poverty and hunger, and it is concentrated in some of the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The programme has a rigorous focus on achieving results and provides strong...

Written Answers — Election Monitoring: Election Monitoring (8 Nov 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government believes that international election monitoring missions have an important role to play in the promotion of human rights and democracy. Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of observers for election monitoring missions. We aim to ensure that, when requested, Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international observation...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (8 Nov 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland's overseas development programme, which is central to our foreign policy. It is internationally recognised as one of the best development aid programmes in the world, clearly focused on the fight against extreme poverty and hunger, and concentrated in some of the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Ireland's aid programme has a rigorous...

Social Welfare Code: Motion (2 Nov 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Only within the parameters the Deputy's party set for us.

Social Welfare Code: Motion (2 Nov 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Did the Deputy say the rate reduction was achieved "by accident"?

Social Welfare Code: Motion (2 Nov 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am glad the Deputy is pleased with our victories in those two elections.

Seanad: Gender-Based Violence: Motion (26 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Senators Rónán Mullen and Feargal Quinn for bringing this important matter before the House and affording it the opportunity to debate it. There is no doubt there is broad agreement across the House on the motion, the amendment and the central substantial issue under discussion. I wish to respond to Senator Cait Keane's point on gendercide. The term has not been fully defined at...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (25 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is the UN agency which has responsibility for the provision of assistance and services to five million Palestinian refugees in five areas of operation, the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. The agency manages a budget of €450 million annually to deliver the range of assistance and services to its target population. These...

Written Answers — Election Monitoring: Election Monitoring (25 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government believes that international election monitoring missions have an important role to play in the promotion of human rights and democracy. Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of observers for election monitoring missions. There are currently some 300 people on the roster, 104 women and 196 men. The main requirements for inclusion on the...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (19 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Evaluation and Audit Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade carries out an annual programme of strategic evaluations such as the evaluation of our Country Programmes, thematic evaluations such as our support to combating HIV and AIDS, and evaluations of major NGOs. In addition, all of Irish Aid's major partners, including UN agencies and Global Funds, have well established...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (12 Oct 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. It is recognised internationally for its effectiveness, and for its concentration on some of the poorest countries and communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Irish Aid channels a higher proportion of overall assistance...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (11 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Approximately 2.5 billion people, roughly one-third of global population, lack safe sanitation facilities and 885 million people lack access to improved sources of drinking water. While progress has been made, only twenty six out of fifty four African countries are on track to meet Millennium Development Goal 7 "to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to...

Disaster Relief (11 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I acknowledge Deputy Costello's interest in this issue for some time. Obviously I am anxious to bring it to fruition. He has outlined the reasons such a humanitarian hub should be located in Shannon. It is an unfortunate fact that the frequency and impact of natural and other disasters has increased dramatically in recent years. From the Asian tsunami of 2004 to the earthquake in Haiti...

Disaster Relief (11 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I take the Deputy's point that the Lisbon treaty adds to the strength of the proposal and also the fact that there is not an Atlantic hub. He suggested that we prepare a template for the United Nations and the EU. We will take all those comments on board. However, we must ensure it fits in with existing facilities. Given that the other hubs are close to where disasters tend to happen...

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid (5 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Senator for raising the issue. I invite him and the disability rights organisations to make submissions on the White Paper review. The consultation process will take place between January and March next year and the review will conclude by next July. I welcome the concept of a rights-based approach. I also welcome this opportunity to address the important issue of how our...

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid (5 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is difficult to put a concrete figure on it. I have a figure that more than €6.5 million was provided since 2008 specifically to non-governmental organisations, NGOs, working with people with disabilities. They would be organisations such as Sightsavers, CBM Ireland and Children in Crossfire but there is also a Dóchas disability and development group representatives of which I met...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Each year my Department publishes a report on the activities supported by Irish Aid, the Government's development aid programme. The focus of the 2010 Irish Aid Annual Report, which I launched two weeks ago, is on demonstrating the impact of Irish Aid funding on the lives of communities where we are working. The theme of the report is that development assistance works. At a time when...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 94, 95, 97,107, 110 and 123 together. The Government is strongly committed to Ireland's overseas development programme, which is central to our foreign policy. It is internationally recognised as one of the best development aid programmes in the world, is clearly focused on the fight against extreme poverty and hunger, and is concentrated in some of the...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The humanitarian situation across the Horn of Africa is worsening, with more than 13 million people affected by drought and food shortages. The Government has been following and responding to the crisis for many months and has already allocated more than €10 million in emergency assistance. Our funding has been utilised by the UN, the Red Cross and NGOs such as Concern and Trócaire, to...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: One of the most important international meetings on development issues this year will be the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, to be held in Busan, in the Republic of Korea, in November. The Forum will assess progress in implementing the commitments made under the 2005 Paris Declaration on making aid more effective. It will also focus on new global development challenges, such as...