Results 101-120 of 881 for speaker:Peter Power

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Peter Power: That is not a point of order.

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (15 Jun 2010)

Peter Power: Since 2007, the Government has allocated over €2.6 billion in funding under Vote 29 (International Cooperation) of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Department, through Irish Aid, administers the Government's aid programme, which has a clear focus on the reduction of poverty and hunger, especially in the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to the programme budgets in...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (15 Jun 2010)

Peter Power: Ireland's strategy to deal with disability in international development is guided by the White Paper on Irish Aid which recognises the inter-relationship between poverty and disability. Disabled people are more vulnerable to poverty and its effects and poor people are more at risk of becoming disabled through, for example, unsafe living environments; undernutrition; lack of access to...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (1 Jun 2010)

Peter Power: The Advisory Board for Irish Aid was established in August 2002, originally as the Advisory Board for Development Cooperation Ireland, to provide general advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the strategic direction of the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries. This Board consisted of eleven members who were appointed for a three year period. The Advisory Board...

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2010)

Peter Power: I thank the Deputy.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (20 May 2010)

Peter Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 42 and 51 together. Since 2002, the EU has been negotiating a series of important new agreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (or ACP) group of States. These Economic Partnership Agreements combine both trade and development provisions. The negotiations are being carried out by the European Commission, on behalf of the European Community and...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Assistance: Humanitarian Assistance (20 May 2010)

Peter Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 24, 54 and 59 together. The International Donors' Conference, The International Donors' Conference, Towards a New Future for Haiti, which was held in New York on 31 March, signalled in very strong terms the commitment of the international community to supporting the Government and people of Haiti in rebuilding their country after the devastation of the...

Written Answers — Debt Relief: Debt Relief (20 May 2010)

Peter Power: Debt relief under the two main multilateral initiatives to tackle the debt burden on developing countries, as well as loans from the International Financial Institutions, are often conditional on the implementation of certain macro-economic and development policies. To be eligible, countries must demonstrate their commitment to sound economic management and poverty reduction through the...

Written Answers — Rapid Response Corps: Rapid Response Corps (20 May 2010)

Peter Power: The Rapid Response Corps was established in 2007 to provide a body of highly skilled volunteers who could deploy at short notice to Irish Aid's humanitarian partner organisations. The Department of Foreign Affairs recently held a recruitment drive to increase the number of volunteers within the Corps. As a result 25 new members have been recruited, bringing to 155 the total number of Rapid...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (20 May 2010)

Peter Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 55 and 65 together. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted by Heads of Government at the Millennium Summit in 2000 provide the framework for international development up to 2015. They set specific, measurable development targets and represent the commitment of the international community to work for the eradication of global poverty in all its...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (20 May 2010)

Peter Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 160 together. Addressing HIV and AIDS, which has destroyed the lives of millions of men, women and children, is of fundamental importance to the reduction of global poverty. AIDS remains a leading cause of death in many developing countries. Over 22 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with HIV. The Government has committed to expend...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 May 2010)

Peter Power: The practice of female genital mutilation is a clear violation of the human rights of women and girls. It has serious social, health and psychological consequences, and it 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...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (20 May 2010)

Peter Power: For 2010, the Government has provided an overall allocation for Official Development Assistance (ODA) of €671 million. Of this total, €536 million will be administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and a further estimated €135 million will come from other Government Departments, together with Ireland's share of the EU Development Cooperation budget. Based on current projections...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (20 May 2010)

Peter Power: Combating hunger is a cornerstone of our development programme and our foreign policy. We have undertaken to direct approximately 20 per cent of the Irish Aid budget on hunger and hunger related actions by 2012. We are firmly on track to meet this target notwithstanding the current difficult economic circumstances. Ireland's leadership in this area is recognised internationally. We spent...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (20 May 2010)

Peter Power: The White Paper on Irish Aid sets out the principles and policies underlying the aid programme. It identifies the considerations which guide the selection of long term development partners. These include factors such as the level of poverty and the scope for Ireland to make a positive impact. It also includes standards of governance, stability and the potential of the partner government to...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (20 May 2010)

Peter Power: Through the overseas aid programme the Government provides assistance to over ninety countries worldwide. Nine have been designated as Programme Countries for Irish Aid, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance. These are Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia. Irish Aid provided direct programme funding of €198 million...

Written Answers — European External Action Service: European External Action Service (20 May 2010)

Peter Power: The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty has resulted in significant changes in the organisation and architecture of the European institutions. These include the creation of a full-time President of the European Council, the establishment of the new post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the creation of a European External Action Service (EEAS), which is...

Written Answers — Debt Relief: Debt Relief (20 May 2010)

Peter Power: In 2005, the leaders of the G8 countries, at their Summit in Gleneagles, agreed to establish the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI), with a focus on the cancellation of the heavy debt burden on developing countries. It was intended to supplement the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative which was launched in 1996 to reduce the debt burden of qualifying countries to...

Election Monitoring (20 May 2010)

Peter Power: The travel restrictions imposed by the authorities are naturally of great concern to us. We have always had free access to all parts of the country. The system involves applying for permits to leave Addis Ababa to travel north and south, although all permits applied for have been granted. Nevertheless, it is of concern that a foreign country, which has a partnership arrangement with the...

Election Monitoring (20 May 2010)

Peter Power: The Deputies make valid points. The 2005 elections were very unsatisfactory and the subsequent violence was disturbing. This year's parliamentary election is the fourth since the Derg was overthrown in 1991 and one hopes by now that democratic principles will be observed. For this reason, the EU is investing considerable effort in its observation mission and a number of highly trained...