Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senators for their wide-ranging and interesting comments on this Bill. Members of Seanad Éireann have shown consistent and genuine concern for the affairs of the less well-off countries of the world and, on behalf of the Government, I fully acknowledge their contribution. I thank them for their contributions, sincerity and collective and individual support for and commitment to the development aid programme and democracy across the world.

Senator Lydon and Senator Mooney mentioned Taiwan. Ireland has consistently pursued a one China policy; the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Conor Lenihan and their predecessors have raised the issue of human rights with the highest levels of the Chinese leadership. Obviously there is progress and change in China, and Taiwan is also making its contribution. I have had bilateral discussions on this issue recently and we are keeping a close eye on that situation. Bilateral improvements can be made between Taiwan and China in the future which will make a major contribution not alone to that region but to the greater world. We must be measured and careful about this in order to ensure democracy is supported and evolves in a broad macro-sense in the interests of individual citizens and of the people of the region.

With regard to Aung San Suu Kyi, I addressed an international conference on behalf of Ireland last April in Jakarta. I led the campaign at that conference, which was represented by most of the democratic countries of the world, in a very strong manner, to give full freedom and release to Aung San Suu Kyi. We deplore the situation that prevails. I have a close personal interest in that area because my wife's late uncle who was a Columban priest in Burma was shot and wounded there and incarcerated for three years. During all that time, neither his family nor his order knew where he was. Accordingly I have since followed the situation in Burma with great interest. Regrettably, the man has since passed to his eternal reward, but as Senator Hanafin said, he and his colleagues made a major contribution on behalf of Ireland as missionaries, educationalists and leaders across the world. They also made a major contribution to democracy.

My colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, raised this issue on the tenth anniversary of the Aung San Suu Kyi detention on 24 October last. The Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, has had a number of meetings on the issue with various people from Burma and other areas. We will continue to raise the situation and give it the highest profile possible until equity and full mobility prevail for this outstanding person, a Nobel prizewinner who is making a major contribution in that area and should be given the freedom to make an even greater contribution in the future. If Senators have questions on any other issue I will be delighted to respond.

We have benefited from the total contribution made to the economic and social development of Ireland by international development institutions. It is now time for us to acknowledge that past support and, as we have become wealthier, to show our support for other states and their development as they grapple with their problems. In joining the Asian Development Bank we are acknowledging our commitment to the less well off in the developing world. I thank all Senators for giving this Bill their speedy attention today.

Earlier this week, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, on behalf of the Government, announced that in discussions held last week at the World Bank in Washington on the funding of the multilateral debt relief initiative, MDRI, which is aimed at cancelling debts mainly in Africa, Ireland promised to give the World Bank some €59 million towards meeting the cost of this initiative. This additional funding, which will increase our overseas development aid spending for 2006, is to help meet the costs of the cancellation of existing debts due to the International Development Association, IDA, under the MDRI process.

These debts to be cancelled relate to some of the world's poorest countries. The Minister for Finance said that Ireland, a long-time supporter of debt relief and of the World Bank's IDA loans and grants programme, would make this funding available upfront to help the World Bank proceed with this initiative immediately. Senators are probably aware that as a result of the decisions in Gleneagles, we have 40 years to make that contribution of nearly €60 million, but we are making a once-off total payment of more than €59 million. That shows our commitment as a Government and a nation to the multilateral debt relief initiative. Other states may pay for this debt cancellation over a much longer period in smaller instalments but subject to approval by the Oireachtas, Ireland is prepared to make its full contribution to the debt cancellation costs available during 2006 to help the World Bank make the many early adjustments needed to go ahead with this initiative.

Some time ago we gave a commitment to reach an aid figure of 0.7% of GNP. We made the commitment in an open, public, international, genuine and sincere manner, with regard to our GNP at that time. As our economy since grew — a credit to the Government's management of the country and to the people of Ireland — the figure was a moving target, and our commitment was for the position as it stood at the time. We are now exceeding the baseline figure set then. We can be proud of that major contribution and commitment.

The early delivery of money by Ireland to provide upfront financing was especially welcomed at the meeting by the president of the World Bank, Mr. Paul Wolfowitz of the USA, as being helpful in driving the debt cancellation process forward. The World Bank is now likely to take formal decisions to go ahead with debt cancellation in early January. In his speech at the annual meetings of the World Bank and the IMF earlier this year, the Minister for Finance promised that Ireland would do all it could to assist with debt cancellation. This new money helps to deliver on that commitment.

I thank all Senators for their interesting contributions and indeed for the cross-party support. I thank Senator John Paul Phelan for his support on behalf of his party. It was encouraging to see that all sides of this House are committed to development issues. I commend Senators for their contributions and I commend the Bill to the House.