HIV/AIDS will prove to be the greatest obstacle to reducing poverty and achieving the international development goals. Unless the international community can tackle the crisis quickly and effectively, our efforts to support development in other spheres will be undermined. Accordingly, Ireland Aid will continue to integrate measures to combat HIV/AIDS into all facets of the aid programme. This weekend we will mark World AIDS Day, 1 December, with a number of activities designed to raise awareness of the scale and consequences of the human tragedy caused by HIV/AIDS.