Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the grant aid advanced to Aid Action Ireland for the years 2003 and 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5558/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Action Aid Ireland received the following support from the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries:

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on a submission (details supplied); his plans to assist in overcoming the stated problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5953/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The letter referred to in the Deputy's question concerns the challenges for Ireland and the international community in 2005 in achieving the millennium development goals, the UN target for official development assistance, the international trade agenda, insecurity, in particular in Darfur in Sudan, and the need to tackle the global arms trade.

On the millennium development goals, MDGs, I am keenly aware of the need to accelerate progress if the goals are to be achieved by 2015, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In preparation for the United Nations high level event in September which will assess global progress towards meeting the MDGs, the EU has decided to take on a leadership role by promoting initiatives on aid financing, policy coherence and a special initiative on Africa. Ireland has been a leading proponent of a strong EU role in promoting the MDGs, including during our 2004 EU Presidency, and we have submitted a national report to the European Commission on our contribution towards meeting the MDGs.

With regard to overseas aid, the allocation for 2005 provides for an increase of €70 million in Government spending on official development assistance, ODA, this year. This will bring total Government aid to the developing world to approximately €545 million in 2005, the highest allocation in the 30-year history of the aid programme. Further increases of €65 million will be given in each of the years 2006 and 2007. This means that over the three years from 2005 to 2007, €1.8 billion will be spent by Ireland on development assistance. The welcome advantage of these multi-annual commitments, recognised and recommended by the last OECD review of our aid programme, is the ability to plan on a long-term basis and to give our partners in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere predictability of funding.

The Government remains strongly committed to achieving the UN target for expenditure on ODA. The issue of how best to meet the target and in what timeframe is under ongoing review. In the coming months also, Development Co-operation Ireland will launch a consultative process that will lead to a White Paper on development assistance. All interested stakeholders are being invited to submit views.

On the issue of trade, Ireland has constantly stressed the needs of developing countries in the negotiations on the Doha development agenda. The former Minister of State with responsibility for development co-operation and human rights, Deputy Kitt, took part in Ireland's ministerial delegation to the world trade talks in Cancun in September 2003. At EU ministerial level, Ireland has stressed the need to take on board the concerns of developing countries, including in the area of special and differential treatment. The European Commission is engaged in negotiations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific, ACP, states to conclude regional economic partnership agreements, EPAs, which will enter into force at the beginning of 2008. While a number of points of divergence remain to be resolved, Ireland supports the EPAs since they are intended to promote sustainable development and poverty eradication in the ACP countries.

The situation in Darfur in Sudan is a source of particular concern. The United Nations and the Security Council have been centrally involved in efforts to address the Darfur crisis and with this in mind are, inter alia, assessing the possibility of strengthening the implementation of the UN arms embargo and broadening it to include the Government of Sudan. At national level, the Irish Government will continue to use all avenues open to it to urge action in addressing the humanitarian, security and political challenges which exist in Darfur. In 2004, Ireland provided more than €10 million in humanitarian support to Sudan generally, of which €6.38 million went to Darfur. Additional funding will be delivered in 2005.

With regard to a global arms trade treaty aimed at preventing arms transfers which undermine human rights and sustainable development, I am aware of a process led by a number of non-governmental organisations, NGOs, including Amnesty International and Oxfam, aimed at the conclusion of an international arms trade treaty. This treaty is intended to be a legally binding agreement with core principles and mechanisms relating to international transfers of arms. While work on the drafting of the text is still ongoing, it is a promising initiative and I commend the NGOs concerned for their efforts. My Department will continue to be associated with the process and will closely monitor developments. Officials from my Department are attending a meeting on this subject in Tanzania this week.