Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Michael P. Kitt, and acknowledge he became aware of his new role last year. I wish him well in that new role. I acknowledge the role of our former colleague, Mr. Joe Walsh, who oversaw the production of this report and analysed the reasons why we have such mass global hunger. I commend him and his team on producing this report for discussion and for its recommendations. On reading the document, I reflected on the position of Ireland some 160 years ago. It suffered at first hand from the devastating effects of crop failure. Ireland is familiar with starvation and hunger and many of our ancestors could speak with authority on the subject. However, for some parts of the world I question what has changed since then.

Today, as the Minister of State outlined, almost 860 million people do not have access to enough food. Food prices are escalating. Some 10 million children under five years of age die every year. Malnutrition is the underlying factor in half of these deaths. Access to safe and nutritious food is a fundamental right for everyone. Most women and children suffer from anemia, due to iron deficiency. This is a major cause of maternal death. The Government is convinced of the need for a high profile, concerted and effective international effort to eradicate mass global hunger. We committed in September 2005 to reach the target of 0.7% of the gross national income for overseas development aid by 2012 and, within that commitment, an increased effort to tackle the root causes of hunger.

The task force on hunger identified what can be done to reach that target. We have to look at the contribution Ireland can make and thus achieve the first millennium development goal of halving poverty and hunger by 2015. That was a main focus of the report and a commitment in preparing this report on how to rid the world of hunger. It sets out a programme to eliminate hunger and highlights three critical areas.

First, increase the productivity of small farm holdings, mainly women farmers, in Africa who account for up to 80% of food production in developing countries. We have to encourage agricultural diversification among small scale farmers. Second, we must target the prevention of maternal and infant malnutrition by supporting programmes that encourage exclusive breast feeding for the first six months. We must support programmes that ensure maternal nutrition. We must also support programmes of preventative measures against HIV-Aids and other diseases. We must support programmes that provide school feeding — breakfast and lunch meals. Such programmes have proven to be critical to providing nourishment for children at school, allowing them to learn better as well as increasing attendance rates, also focusing on female children and encouraging them to stay on in school. Progress in agriculture should link with nutrition. That should be part of future policy.

Third, a critical area that should be prioritised at national and international level is the reduction of hunger and malnutrition. That will not be achieved overnight. The commitment on hunger eradication must be a joint effort. The aim is to reach the development goals by 2015 by reducing by half the proportion of people suffering from hunger. A welcome recommendation in the report is that there should be a special envoy for hunger to ensure that targets are met in the context of Ireland's commitment to reach the 0.7% of GNI target by 2012 and that at international level the United Nations Secretary General should establish a high level task force comprising of heads of all the relevant agencies and institutions to deal with emergency food assistance, nutrition intervention, agriculture development of small hold farmers to boost agricultural production, school feeding and feeding at work. Those are examples of what can be achieved.

We must also promote international mechanisms to ensure governments honour their commitments and priorities in the reduction of hunger and malnutrition. Another recommendation in the report worth considering is that the United Nations should have a commissioner who, along with a team, would audit the actions of individual countries in addressing global hunger and with the authority to hold governments to account where their actions are inadequate.

We should also support new initiatives by international financial institutions to direct funds towards agricultural food assistance and nutrition. Strengthening small scale farmers and assisting them in diversification is important also. The provision of rural infrastructure should be encouraged. For example, there are very poor roads in many underdeveloped countries which block access to markets at local and national level. The provision of infrastructure, therefore, is another important area.

Risks in agriculture must also consider climate change. Risk in water stress, water harvesting and water management systems will be increasingly important both for food production and household use. Access to clean household water is vital for proper nutrition and health.

Hunger is not an insurmountable challenge. While governments can give leadership, the global hunger problem requires a response from all in Irish society — Government, non-governmental organisations, missionary organisations, higher education and research institutions, the private sector, and the citizens of Ireland who are always ready to respond with compassion to food crises in the developing world.

I welcome the report because it will encourage and inspire our Government, other governments and multi-national companies to give a global commitment to making the elimination of world hunger a reality. I commend the report. I hope it will be acted upon. We must achieve our millennium development goals and stick to our plan of 0.7% of GNI to target the eradication of hunger not only in the developing world but throughout the world.