Results 1-20 of 4,929 for speaker:Michael Kitt in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Jul 2007)

Michael Kitt: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 99 together. Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is Irish Aid's Headquarters, will decentralise to Limerick. This is scheduled to take place in early 2008 on completion of the premises. It will involve the relocation to Limerick of 124 posts. Good...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Jul 2007)

Michael Kitt: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 162, 163 and 277 together. Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is Irish Aid's Headquarters, will decentralise to Limerick. This is scheduled to take place early in 2008 on completion of the premises which are currently under construction. It will involve...

Written Answers — Rapid Response Initiative: Rapid Response Initiative (3 Jul 2007)

Michael Kitt: A recruitment campaign was launched across the national media seeking applications to join the Rapid Response Corps in early February 2007. This first recruitment round was completed on 21 June. I am very pleased with the response received and, more particularly, the depth, breadth and range of experience of the individuals who applied, as well as their willingness and enthusiasm to be...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (3 Jul 2007)

Michael Kitt: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 171 together. The humanitarian situation in Iraq has continued to deteriorate with up to 2 million internally-displaced persons within Iraq and some 2 million seeking refuge outside the country, mostly in Syria and Jordan. Provision of basic services and people's access to services are being severely affected by the current conflict. Access to water...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (3 Jul 2007)

Michael Kitt: My Department is deeply conscious of the need to raise awareness and increase understanding among the public of the Irish Aid programme. The need has become more apparent in recent years, in light of the Government's commitment to reach the United Nations target of 0.7% of Gross National Product for overseas development assistance by 2012. One of the key recommendations of the White Paper on...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (3 Jul 2007)

Michael Kitt: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 173 together. The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, announced at the UN Millennium Review Summit in New York on 14 September 2005 that the Government will reach the target of spending 0.7% of GNP on Official Development Assistance by 2012. We have agreed a number of steps along the way to achieving the target. Firstly, we have an interim target of 0.5% of GNP...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (3 Jul 2007)

Michael Kitt: The recent storms in Pakistan and India have severely affected some of the most vulnerable communities in the region. It is estimated that hundreds of people may have been killed and thousands have lost their homes as well as their livelihoods. The worst-affected areas have been in and around Karachi. The Pakistani Red Crescent Society has been active in its response and is providing support...

Written Answers — Debt Relief: Debt Relief (3 Jul 2007)

Michael Kitt: Increasing efforts are being made to tackle the problem of debt owed by developing countries to the International Financial Institutions, in particular the World Bank, African Development Bank and IMF. The Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative was introduced in 1996 and strengthened and enhanced in 1999. It sought the reduction of the debt burden of qualifying countries to...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (3 Jul 2007)

Michael Kitt: The situation in the ecologically and politically fragile region of the Horn of Africa is a high priority for Ireland, the EU and the United Nations. The problems faced by the countries of the region include the ongoing conflicts in Darfur and Somalia; a prolonged stalemate in the Ethiopia-Eritrea peace process; and the need to rebuild southern Sudan following decades of civil war. At a...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (3 Jul 2007)

Michael Kitt: HIV/AIDS continues to be the single biggest obstacle to reducing poverty and to attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Current statistics from the United Nations Joint Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) indicate that, in 2006, almost 40 million people were living with the HIV virus. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the worst-affected region in the world and is now home to over 25...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (23 Oct 2007)

Michael Kitt: Assistance to development organisations operating in Nepal has totalled €2.6 million since 2004, as follows: 2004 €448,468 2005 €596,620 2006 €600,533 2007 €988,041 The funding has been provided under a number of different schemes, including funding for missionary organisations, volunteer programmes, and funding for long-term development under the Civil Society Fund in the areas...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (23 Oct 2007)

Michael Kitt: There has been a sharp deterioration in 2007 in the security and humanitarian situation in Sudan, particularly Darfur. The current crisis represents a significant challenge to efforts to help the people of Sudan. Humanitarian access remains very difficult for aid workers in their efforts to reach those most in need. The security situation within some of the camps remains very volatile. In...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Emergencies: Humanitarian Emergencies (23 Oct 2007)

Michael Kitt: The Rapid Response Corps is a key component of the Government's Rapid Response Initiative. This Initiative is designed to enhance Ireland's overall response to humanitarian emergencies. The Rapid Response Corps consists of a roster of highly-skilled individuals who can deploy at short notice to emergency situations. The campaign to recruit members to this roster was launched in February 2007....

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Oct 2007)

Michael Kitt: Irish Aid, the Government's official development programme, recognises adequate water and sanitation both as a fundamental right and as essential for social and economic development. We believe that adequate water and sanitation are prerequisites to the achievement of other basic rights, such as the right to health or to the achievement of equal rights for women and children, who currently...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (23 Oct 2007)

Michael Kitt: There are no plans, at this time, to purchase a transport aircraft for the Air Corps as part of Ireland's overseas aid programme. Such a purchase is unlikely to be a cost effective use of Irish Aid funding. The current position is that the transportation of Ireland's supplies of essential, non-food relief items — which are stockpiled at the UN's humanitarian response base in Brindisi, Italy...

Written Answers — Rapid Response Corps: Rapid Response Corps (23 Oct 2007)

Michael Kitt: The Rapid Response Corps is one element of the Rapid Response Initiative, which is itself a key component of the Government's White Paper on Irish Aid of September 2006. The overall aim is to save lives by a more effective response to humanitarian crises. The Rapid Response Corps is a roster of highly-skilled individuals who can deploy, on a voluntary basis, at short notice to emergency...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (23 Oct 2007)

Michael Kitt: The main focus of Ireland's programme of development assistance is on Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. Our objective is to help the poorest and most vulnerable people in developing countries, through assisting in bringing about positive and lasting changes in their lives. There is undoubtedly a clear inter-relationship between poverty, food security and conflict. The reduction of...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (23 Oct 2007)

Michael Kitt: The fundamental objective of Ireland's overseas aid programme is to help the poorest and most vulnerable people in developing countries, in particular in Africa, through assisting in bringing about positive and lasting changes in their lives. To achieve this change, Irish Aid devises programmes — in close consultation with national governments and other key stakeholders — which support...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Oct 2007)

Michael Kitt: Refugee movements have many causes, including human rights abuses, conflicts and poverty. It is commonly accepted that the targeted eradication of poverty is an effective means of reducing migratory pressures from less developed countries to the developed world, thereby ensuring that migration can be effectively managed to the benefit of both sending and receiving countries. My Department...

Written Answers — Debt Relief: Debt Relief (23 Oct 2007)

Michael Kitt: The IMF and World Bank have made increasing efforts to tackle the problem of debt in developing countries since the launch of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative in 1996. The HIPC Initiative, which was strengthened and enhanced in 1999, sought to reduce the debt burden of qualifying countries to sustainable levels but did not entail cancellation. Ire land contributed some...