Results 381-400 of 3,353 for speaker:Joe Costello in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (16 Jan 2013)

Joe Costello: The last ten years represent one of the worst decades ever in terms of attacks on humanitarian workers and lack of humanitarian access. Across the world, courageous humanitarian workers struggle every day to reach civilians in armed conflicts as well as those affected by the numerous natural disasters that occur each year. In many of these desperate situations the provision of life-saving...

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

Joe Costello: 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 reaches its intended beneficiaries and that it makes a real difference in the lives of the poorest people. To ensure that our assistance is effectively delivered to those most in need in developing...

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

Joe Costello: The Government will maintain its focus on the issues of poverty, hunger, and conflict in Africa in the coming years, while also working to develop our bilateral relations to take account of the remarkable economic progress which has been made in many countries across the continent. The extent of our commitment to Africa is underlined by the fact that some 80% of Ireland’s official...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (20 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s aid programme. The programme prioritises the fight against global poverty and hunger and is consistently rated internationally as one of the most effective in the world. It is strongly focused on the poorest countries and communities in sub-Saharan Africa, prioritising investments in the areas of education, health, good governance,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (20 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: The humanitarian crisis in Syria is of great concern to the Government. Since the uprising in Syria began in March 2011 an estimated 40,000 people have been killed in the violence. Over 2.5 million people inside Syria are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance, with 1.2 million people displaced inside the country. The number of registered refugees from Syria in the region has now passed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Voluntary Youth Work (19 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through Irish Aid, has provided significant funding to the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) for the implementation of the National Youth Development Education Programme, a partnership between Irish Aid and the NYCI established in 2004 to promote a deeper understanding of global...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Development Education (19 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: The Irish Aid programme reflects the values and experience of the Irish people and depends on their continued support. An important element of the programme, funded under Vote 27 of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is support for development education in Ireland. Irish Aid’s development education budget provides funding for the activities of education institutions and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (19 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: The appalling suffering of the Syrian civilian population over the last twenty one months is of deep concern to Ireland. Since the uprising in Syria began in March 2011 an estimated 40,000 people have been killed in the violence. Over 2.5 million people inside Syria are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance, with 1.2 million people displaced inside the country. The number of registered...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (19 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: Some €498 million of this total was allocated to Vote 27 – International Cooperation which is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. A further estimated €125 million will be provided through payments by other Government Departments, and by Ireland’s allocation of the EU Development Cooperation Budget 2013. ODA eligible contributions from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (18 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: Ireland’s aid programme prioritises the fight against global poverty and hunger. It is strongly focused on the poorest countries and communities in sub-Saharan Africa, prioritising investments in the areas of education, health, good governance, food security and nutrition. The programme is central to our foreign policy, has an enviable international reputation, and consistently enjoys...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (11 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: The Government’s overseas development programme, which is administered by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is the Irish people’s aid programme. It reflects their core values of justice and fairness and represents a genuine investment on behalf of the Irish people to assist some of the world’s poorest communities. Ireland’s aid...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (4 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: I welcome the decision by the World Bank earlier this year to review its procurement policy and practices. This first comprehensive root and branch review of its operations since 1964 forms part of the wider World Bank agenda for modernization to better respond to today’s complex set of development objectives. Ireland strongly supports the core principles of a modern procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: World Bank Policy (4 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: I welcome the launch, last month, of the World Bank’s review of its environmental and social safeguard policies. The launch of the “Approach Paper for the Review and Update of the Safeguards Policy” signalled the start of a two-year process to review and update this key element of the Bank’s operational policies. I am particularly pleased to see the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (27 Nov 2012)

Joe Costello: Ireland’s aid programme prioritises the fight against global poverty and hunger. The programme is central to our foreign policy, has an enviable international reputation and enjoys consistently high levels of public and political support. In 2011 Ireland provided €657 million to Official Development Assistance (ODA). This funding was directed to development programmes and to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (27 Nov 2012)

Joe Costello: 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 high quality, its strong focus on the fight against poverty and hunger, and its concentration on the poorest countries and communities of sub-Saharan Africa. In 2011, €657 million was provided by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (27 Nov 2012)

Joe Costello: In 2011, Ireland provided a total of €657 million in Official Development Assistance (ODA). Approximately €520 million was administered by my Department through Irish Aid with the balance consisting of ODA eligible contributions by other Government Departments and Ireland’s share of the EU development cooperation budget. The total of €657 million in 2011 includes...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (27 Nov 2012)

Joe Costello: 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.It is recognised internationally for its effectiveness, and for its concentration on some of the poorest countries and communities, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa. Our partnership with Non-Governmental...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Red Cross (27 Nov 2012)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together. My Department is aware that the Irish Red Cross has recently undertaken a comprehensive reform of its internal governance structures. However, as the Deputy will know, issues related to the internal governance of the Irish Red Cross fall under the mandate of my colleague, the Minister for Defence, Alan Shatter, T.D. The engagement of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Joe Costello: Vietnam is a priority country for Ireland’s aid programme, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance. I visited Vietnam from 28 to 31 October to see the impact of the aid programme, to promote trade between our two countries, and to support a number of key Irish companies working in Vietnam. I met with senior Ministers including Deputy Prime Minister Hai, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (14 Nov 2012)

Joe Costello: A key factor in running a successful Presidency in the area of development cooperation is the building of strong relationships with the EU institutions - the European External Action Service, the European Parliament and the Commission. Over the past six months, I have held extensive discussions with the institutions, and especially with Development Commissioner Piebalgs and Humanitarian...