Results 12,501-12,520 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

International Agreements (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: That is a very interesting suggestion.

International Agreements (4 Oct 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: An event which links our development work with the Famine is due to take place shortly. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Deenihan, is taking the lead in respect of that event, at which I will be delivering an address. There is a strong folk memory of the Famine and that is why there is such support for our programme across the political parties and among members...

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...

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 — 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 (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 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 (13 Jul 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 57 and 58 together. As Deputies will be aware from recent media coverage, Somalia and the Horn of Africa region more generally are experiencing the most severe food crisis in the world today. Between 10 and 12 million people in Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda are affected. The immediate cause of the crisis is a prolonged drought and the...

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...

Overseas Development Aid (13 Jul 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Most of the funding to the Horn of Africa is allocated directly to non-governmental or United Nations organisations. Any money allocated directly to governments, largely the Governments of Uganda and Ethiopia, is directly programmed for specific areas and is not paid into a central government fund. While I appreciate that bore holes and access to water are crucial, practice has shown that...

Overseas Development Aid (13 Jul 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Deputy for his co-operative approach to helping the Government. It is extremely important that we do whatever we can in this area. A number of representatives of the United Nations are in the region and our embassy in Addis Ababa has been reporting back directly from them on the current position. I, too, commend the non-governmental organisations on the fantastic work they are...

Departmental Bodies (13 Jul 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Following the recent transfer of certain trade promotion functions from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade now has responsibility for the establishment and management of the export trade council. The Tánaiste intends to convene the first meeting of the new council, which he will chair, later this month. As Minister of State with...

Departmental Bodies (13 Jul 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I know the Tánaiste and I will be happy to engage with the committee. We do not want to delay the establishment and we have agreed it will be established by the end of the month. The final arrangements are being put in place. An important difference is that as well as State agencies and Ministries, individuals directly involved in exporting will be on the council. There is a time factor...

Overseas Development Aid (13 Jul 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government has been following the humanitarian crisis across the Horn of Africa for many months. At the beginning of 2011, in anticipation of a severe crisis, we pre-approved humanitarian funding of €4 million for UN agencies and NGOs working in the region. Approximately 12 million people in five countries are now being affected by the most severe food crisis in the world today. To...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (5 Jul 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government's aid programme, which is administered by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, is concentrated on the least developed countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Botswana is not one of the priority countries for the aid programme. However, since 2001, just over €680,000 has been provided in assistance for development work in the country by Non-Governmental...

Biological Weapons Bill 2010: From the Seanad. (30 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Deputies will be aware the responsibilities of several Ministers and their Departments have recently been changed by the Government. The relevant statutory instrument amending Ministers' titles came into operation only after the Biological Weapons Bill had been passed by Dáil Éireann. These two amendments are required to adjust the provisions of the Bill to ensure the correct references...

Biological Weapons Bill 2010: From the Seanad. (30 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Opposition and all Members of both Houses for their support for this important legislation in terms of our international obligations, particularly on disarmament and non-proliferation. There is general agreement across the Houses on these issues.