Results 12,481-12,500 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

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

Jan O'Sullivan: The international community is facing a grave humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa, with an estimated thirteen million people in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti affected by a long-running drought. The situation is most critical in Somalia, where the United Nations estimates that 750,000 are at imminent risk of starvation and where the conflict and access issues have greatly...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government recognises that trade is an engine for growth which offers a path to development for those most in need, wherever they live. With increased trade, many developing countries have seen incomes and employment grow rapidly and this has resulted in significant reductions in poverty levels. This understanding is clearly reflected in the EU's trade policy which seeks to promote...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 to 113, inclusive, together. As Minister of State with responsibility for Ireland's Official Development Assistance, I am very conscious of the need to ensure that development aid reaches its intended beneficiaries and that it makes a real difference in the lives of the poorest people. The overarching objective of the aid programme is to contribute to the...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Aid: Humanitarian Aid (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The humanitarian situation across the Horn of Africa is worsening, with over 13 million people now affected by drought and food shortages in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. The situation is at its worst in Somalia, where the United Nations has warned that 750,000 are at imminent risk of starvation and where ongoing conflict and access issues have greatly exacerbated the challenge of...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Aid: Humanitarian Aid (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Studies by the United Nations have shown that the last ten years have represented one of the worst decades ever in terms of attacks on humanitarian workers. The situation varies considerably from country to country however and within the Horn of Africa, aid workers can generally go about their business in a protected and unhindered manner across much of the region. The clear exception to...

Trade Relations (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Ireland's trade relations with Turkey are good and levels of trade are increasing. In 2010, Turkey was Ireland's 22nd largest merchandise trading partner, with the bilateral merchandise trade valued at €685 million. This represented an increase of 8% on 2009 figures. Figures for the first six months of this year show a 16% rise in merchandise trade over the same period last year. The...

Trade Relations (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, had a family bereavement at the weekend. That is the reason she is not present today. I am aware of the statement she made in April 2010, but she was an Opposition Deputy at the time. The Government's position is consistent with that of previous Governments, which is that it supports Turkey's candidacy for EU membership. Progress on this requires...

Trade Relations (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I note the Deputy's point but the Government's position is as I outlined, and that includes all members of the Government.

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...

International Agreements (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy is aware, the programme for Government states that Ireland is committed to reaching the target of 0.7% of GDP. All the countries which signed up to the agreement aspire to this goal and we are working very hard to reach it. I acknowledge that there has been a reduction of approximately 30% in the level of our contribution in recent years and that the figure currently stands at...