Results 201-220 of 3,357 for speaker:Joe Costello in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (5 Dec 2013)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together. Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever recorded, hit the Philippines on 8 November with devastating effect. It is estimated at present that the typhoon affected 14.4 million people, with over 3.6 million remaining displaced, including approximately 1.5 million children. The full human toll of this disaster remains unclear but...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration (4 Dec 2013)

Joe Costello: The Government’s international aid programme, Irish Aid, which is managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is recognised internationally for its effectiveness in producing results for the poorest and most vulnerable communities. About a quarter of Ireland’s overseas development assistance is channelled through Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). This reflects...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (3 Dec 2013)

Joe Costello: This Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s aid programme and to its place at the heart of Ireland’s foreign policy. The programme reflects the generosity and values of the Irish people and is a concrete expression of our determination to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Our new policy for International Development “One World, One Future”...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (3 Dec 2013)

Joe Costello: This Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s aid programme and to its place at the heart of Ireland’s foreign policy. The programme reflects the generosity and values of the Irish people and is a concrete expression of our determination to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Since 2005, Ireland has contributed over €6.4 billion to Official Development...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Oversight (26 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together. Mozambique is one of the nine key partner countries for the Government’s development cooperation programme, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance. Ireland’s bilateral aid programme to Mozambique is governed by a five year country strategy (2012–16). The goal of the programme is to support...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (19 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 136 to 138, inclusive, together. Current estimates indicate that Typhoon Haiyan has affected 13 million people across 41 provinces (representing over 10% of the country’s population), with up to 4 million people displaced. Official estimates indicate that at least 3,600 lives have been lost. However, it is likely that the full picture of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland's overseas aid programme and to its place at the heart of Irish foreign policy. The programme reflects the values and generosity of spirit of the Irish people and is a concrete expression of our determination to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Our new policy on international development - One World, One Future - maintains the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: The protracted and tragic crisis in Syria and in neighbouring countries has resulted in unprecedented levels of humanitarian need, requiring a sustained and urgent response from the international community. As the number of fatalities moves towards 120,000, there are now approximately 9 million people who are in need of immediate life saving support. In addition to more than 6.5 million...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: Under Ireland's new policy for International Development – One World, One Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that economic development is compatible with human rights, including the right to decent work and our engagement in this area will be informed by, among other international standards, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Ireland has been a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (19 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: Irish Aid works on behalf of the Irish people to address poverty and hunger in some of the poorest countries in the world. Support to children and young people is an integral part of Irish Aid’s focus, and is mainstreamed especially through our health and education programmes. Support to our hunger programmes, which accounts for twenty per cent of the Overseas Development...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (19 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: Ireland, along with our EU Partners, pursues a strategic and comprehensive approach to countries in Africa suffering the consequences of conflict or natural disaster. This approach encompasses political and diplomatic engagement, development cooperation programming, humanitarian assistance, and support for peacekeeping operations. The progress in African countries, particularly those...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (19 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140, 147 and 155 together. As Minister of State with responsibility for Ireland’s Official Development Assistance, I am very conscious of the need to have a high level of assurance that our development assistance is fully accountable and that it makes a real difference to the lives of the world’s poorest people, reaches those most in need and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (19 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: The situation in Sudan and South Sudan is monitored on an ongoing basis by the EU, the UN and other international partners. Ireland is working closely with our EU partners and others to ensure that, in addition to a focus on the political and security situation, priority is given by the international community to the vital issues of human rights and humanitarian access to people and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (19 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: The recruitment and use of child soldiers continues to be a serious problem and a matter of grave concern to Ireland and indeed the international community. The involvement of child soldiers has been reported in most recent armed conflicts and in almost every region of the world over the last two decades. Each year, the United Nations Secretary-General issues a report on children and armed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: The Government remains fully committed to combating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls. This is a key element of our human rights agenda. I will continue to advocate for this important issue at the regional and international level. Ireland has been a strong advocate of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. We have taken a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (14 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 to 33, inclusive, together. A total of over 9.6 million people have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan across 41 provinces in the Philippines, according to latest estimates, and almost 630,000 persons have been displaced. While the media is reporting unconfirmed estimates of up to 10,000 deaths, the official Government figures already stand in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (12 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains and administers a roster of observers for such missions. The aim is to ensure that, when requested, Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international observation missions for both elections and constitutional...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Issues (12 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: Through the Government’s development cooperation programme, Ireland is committed to providing long term strategic assistance to nine key partner countries. Working in partnership with other donors and with Governments in our partner countries, Ireland has made a significant contribution to development and the fight against poverty. In the past decade there have been important...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Resolutions (5 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: The 7th session of United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2008 adopted by consensus a Resolution (7/22) which recognised the existence of human rights obligations relating to access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Ireland actively supported this Resolution and was amongst those United Nations member states which co-sponsored it. Ireland actively engaged in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme and to its place at the heart of Irish foreign policy. The programme reflects the values of the Irish people and is a concrete expression of our determination to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Our new policy on international development - One World, One Future - maintains the Government’s...