Seanad debates

Wednesday, 26 November 2003

Overseas Development Aid: Motion.

 

That Irish aid is not tied makes me very proud. I have been particularly struck in other countries, not just Uganda, by the fact that we buy local produce. This is hugely important because it means those who produce the products there are encouraged to produce more as they know there will be a market. If, on the other hand, one does as the United States does, and sends in unwanted grain or surplus wheat, that is not nearly as valuable. While our monetary effort may not have gone up that much, the quality of what we are doing there is important. To send wheat to an area where it is not normally eaten and where there are no mills for it, having refused to mill it before it is sent, is a hard-hearted way to behave. The way we deliver aid, I believe, is extraordinarily good. The Minister of State is a great supporter, as I am, of the multilateral organisations, the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA and the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF. These organisations are incredibly important in providing the best forms of treatment that are available in the multilateral state. Their ability to influence governments is also important. Ours is only one voice but these organisations have a big voice in influencing governments on how to bring forward various programmes.

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