Results 421-440 of 3,352 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Joe Costello

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (11 Jul 2012)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 52 together. Since its inception in 1974, Ireland's programme of official development assistance has had a particular focus on the continent of Africa. Both historically, and in many cases up to and including the present day, African countries have been faced enormous difficulties, including food insecurity, poverty, protracted conflict, environmental...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Access: Humanitarian Access (10 Jul 2012)

Joe Costello: The Government remains seriously concerned about the situation in Sudan and South Sudan. We are working with our EU partners to ensure that, in addition to a focus on the political and security situation, priority is given by the international community to the vital issue of humanitarian access to people and communities affected by the conflict and the tension in the region. We will...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (10 Jul 2012)

Joe Costello: The 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid set out clearly the basis and priorities for Ireland's official aid programme, which is working on behalf of the Irish people to improve the lives of the world's poorest people. The programme has been recognised internationally for its focus on poverty and hunger, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, and for its leadership in making aid more effective. The...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (10 Jul 2012)

Joe Costello: As we know from our own history, population growth is an enormously complex, multi-dimensional issue. The challenges posed by a rapidly expanding world population need to be addressed by tackling the root causes of that expansion.In poor countries, extreme poverty, food insecurity, inequality, high death rates and high birth rates are all linked in a vicious cycle. Irish Aid, Ireland's...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (5 Jul 2012)

Joe Costello: Ethiopia is one of the nine priority countries for the Government's development cooperation programme, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance. Last month, Human Rights Watch published a new report on Ethiopia, titled "What Will Happen if Hunger Comes?" The report alleges that local communities, including pastoralists in the Lower Omo region, are being forced to move...

Written Answers — Family Planning Summit: Family Planning Summit (4 Jul 2012)

Joe Costello: The British Government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have invited representatives of a number of Governments, international organisations, civil society and the private sector to a conference on family planning in London on 11 July. They have stated that they hope to launch an initiative to make affordable...

Written Answers — International Finance Corporation: International Finance Corporation (26 Jun 2012)

Joe Costello: The International Finance Corporation (IFC), is a member of the World Bank Group, and is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector in developing countries. The private sector, as an engine of growth, innovation and investment to developing countries, has a major role to play in development. Ireland has been a member of the IFC since 1958. We...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (26 Jun 2012)

Joe Costello: The Government's aid programme, administered from within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade by Irish Aid, is sharply focused on the reduction and eventual eradication of global poverty and hunger in some of the poorest countries and communities in the world. It is strongly concentrated in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Ireland has a strong international reputation for the...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (21 Jun 2012)

Joe Costello: In the extensive public consultation process of the review of the White Paper on Irish Aid, there have been significant inputs and suggestions from a variety of sources emphasising the importance of maternal, neonatal and child health. As part of this input, there has been explicit reference to the value and contribution of family planning to the health of women and children. Ireland through...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (19 Jun 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 in sub-Saharan Africa. Cooperation with development Non-Governmental Organisations...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (19 Jun 2012)

Joe Costello: My visit to West Africa between the 1st and the 8th of June 2012 provided me with an invaluable opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the considerable challenges facing Sierra Leone and Liberia and to see first-hand the contribution being made by Ireland through Irish Aid to both countries. The visit also included a short stop-over in Accra Ghana to view the UN Humanitarian Depot,...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (6 Jun 2012)

Joe Costello: Ethiopia is one of the nine Programme Countries for the Government's aid programme, where we have a commitment to the provision of long term strategic assistance. One of the key aims of our development cooperation programme in Ethiopia is to support the increased use of basic social services such as health and education by its citizens. While the Government of Ethiopia has made substantial...

Written Answers — Economic Partnership Agreements: Economic Partnership Agreements (22 May 2012)

Joe Costello: The European Union is strongly committed to the promotion of sustainable and inclusive economic development in Africa. It employs a carefully differentiated approach to its engagement on trade with developing country partners. Since 2002, the EU has been negotiating a series of new Economic Partnership Agreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States. They were necessitated...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (22 May 2012)

Joe Costello: Combating global hunger and undernutrition is a central pillar of the Government's overseas development programme. We are making good progress on the implementation of the recommendations of the 2008 report of the Government's Hunger Task Force. Just last week, the Tánaiste and I announced that we have delivered on the commitment to direct at least 20 per cent of the Irish Aid budget to...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (22 May 2012)

Joe Costello: The theme of this year's session of the UN Commission on Population and Development was 'Adolescents and Youth'. This was particularly timely, given that the number of young people globally has now reached an all time high of 1.2 billion. The session focused on key challenges in meeting the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people and adolescents, in line with the commitments...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (22 May 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 in sub-Saharan Africa. Irish Aid channels a higher proportion of overall assistance...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (17 May 2012)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 28, 32, 34, 36, 37 and 41 together. The Government is gravely concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in several areas of Sudan, most notably in the states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, where an estimated 350,000 civilians have been severely affected by fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudanese People's Liberation...

Written Answers — International Election Monitoring Missions: International Election Monitoring Missions (17 May 2012)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together. The Government believes that international election monitoring missions have an important role to play in the promotion of human rights and democracy, and 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...

Written Answers — UN Commission on Population and Development: UN Commission on Population and Development (15 May 2012)

Joe Costello: The 2012 session of the UN Commission on Population and Development was held last month in New York. The theme of this year's session was 'Adolescents and Youth'. Ireland was represented by officials from my Department. As is customary, there was close coordination between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Health in relation to Ireland's input into the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (15 May 2012)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together. The Government shares the grave concerns expressed by both Deputies for the welfare of the people in South Kordofan and the Nuba Mountains in Sudan. Prolonged fighting since the beginning of June 2011 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N rebel group), in Sudan's South Kordofan...