Results 261-280 of 3,354 for speaker:Joe Costello in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Joe Costello: The theme of the 2012 Irish Aid Annual Report, which I launched last week, is “Reducing Hunger, Strengthening Resilience.” The Report is available on the Irish Aid website, . It outlines Irish Aid's work during 2012 and includes examples of how Irish Aid - the Irish people's overseas aid programme - works to reduce hunger and strengthen resilience, as part of Ireland's overall...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Year of Development (18 Sep 2013)

Joe Costello: I welcome the proposal that 2015 should be designated the European Year of Development, which has been adopted by the Commission and forwarded for consideration to the Council and the European Parliament. The EU is the largest donor of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the world. The proposed Year of Development 2015 will be a timely opportunity to raise awareness of development...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (18 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: At the High Level Donor Pledging Conference for Syria in Kuwait City on 30 January 2013, pledges made came to a total of approximately US$1.54 billion. By 16th July, about 65 per cent of these pledges, or $996 million had been committed. Twenty six out of 43 donors have fully met their pledges. I am pleased to confirm that Ireland's pledge of €4.7m has been fully met and surpassed....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (18 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 51 together. The Government remains committed to Ireland's overseas aid programme. This commitment was strengthened by the publication of our new Policy on International Development, One World, One Future, which clearly sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world, and our goals and areas of focus for the coming years. It also reaffirms the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (18 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: The Government's aid programme, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a strong international reputation for quality and effectiveness and is sharply focused on tackling poverty and hunger, particularly in the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The aid programme has benefited from the contributions of generations of Irish volunteers,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Biofuel Production (18 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: As the Deputy will be aware from my replies to previous Questions on this matter, I share concerns that biofuel production, unless properly regulated, can have a negative impact on food production, and on food prices. My colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, has the lead responsibility for Government policy in relation to biofuels and EU policy on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Missions Issues (17 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: The promotion of stronger bilateral trade and investment remains one of the objectives of the Africa Strategy. This recognises the demand in Africa for goods and services in many of the fastest growing economies in the world. Irish companies engaged in telecommunications and financial services are helping connect people and business as well as improving transparency and accountability. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 141 together. On 5 May 2013, The Tánaiste and I launched One World, One Future - Ireland’s Policy for International Development. This new policy emanates from a commitment in the 2011 Programme for Government to review the 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid. The review examined the progress made by the aid programme over the past 6 years...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (16 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together. International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of observers for election monitoring missions. We aim to ensure that Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international observation missions for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: The Minister for Finance has the lead responsibility in Government for Ireland’s membership of the Asian Development Bank. Ireland joined the Bank in 2006, in line with the Government’s Asia Strategy to increase Ireland’s engagement in Asia. Ireland’s ‘paid-in’ subscription on joining the Bank in 2006 was €8.4 million. Ireland also...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (10 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s aid programme which has been internationally recognised as one of the best in the world. Over the past three years - 2010 to 2012 - Ireland has contributed substantial and stable funding to Official Development Assistance (ODA). In total, in the three years, Ireland has contributed almost €2 billion to ODA, of which about 80%...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Issues (10 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: In 2012 some 160 Irish companies participated in the Africa Ireland Economic Forum, an annual event hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with the objective of supporting Irish companies interested in investing or trading in Africa. The range of interests expressed by Irish companies in Africa varies from agribusiness to financial services and telecommunications. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (4 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: The Government remains committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme. Our new Policy on International Development, “One World, One Future”, clearly sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world, and our goals and areas of focus for the coming years. It reaffirms the Government’s commitment to international development and its centrality to our foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (3 Jul 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 a roster of observers for election monitoring missions. We aim 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 (3 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: On 27 June 2013, I attended a two day seminar in Dublin entitled Africa's Development Future: land, hope and hunger. The event was organised by AWEPA, the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa. It sought to promote a dialogue on the roles, responsibilities and efforts of both European and African parliamentarians in developing policies relevant to Africa's development future...

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

Joe Costello: On 27 June 2013, I attended a two day seminar in Dublin entitled Africa's Development Future: land, hope and hunger. The event was organised by AWEPA - the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa. It sought to promote a dialogue on the roles, responsibilities and efforts of both European and African parliamentarians in developing policies relevant to Africa's development future...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (2 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: The tragic crisis unfolding in Syria and in neighbouring countries has resulted in enormous humanitarian needs requiring an urgent response from the international community. As the number of fatalities moves towards 100,000, there are now close to 7 million people who are in need of immediate life saving support. In addition to more than 4 million people who are displaced within Syria, there...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (2 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: Ireland is a long-standing supporter of pro-poor agricultural research in developing countries through our overseas development programme, Irish Aid. I am gratified that the international donor community has now become more aware of the importance of agriculture and agricultural research in enhancing rural livelihoods and reducing poverty. Given the huge contribution that agricultural...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (2 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: Environment and climate change challenges are at the heart of Ireland's contribution, through our aid programme, to the fight to end extreme poverty and hunger in the world. Through Ireland's development assistance programme, managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, we place a strong emphasis on building community resilience, reducing disaster risk and addressing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 18 together. As Minister of State with responsibility for Ireland’s Official Development Assistance, I am very conscious of the need to ensure that our development assistance is spent effectively, is fully accountable and that it makes a real difference to the lives of the world’s poorest people. The overarching objective of the aid...