Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 449: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the campaign to have Fairtrade products widely available and used; his views on the objectives of this campaign; and if he will endeavour to have such Fairtrade approved products used in his Department. [10559/05]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 450: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if grant aid is available from his Department to help fund an awareness programme in view of the obvious benefits to Third World developing countries of the success of the campaign for the widespread use of Fairtrade products. [10572/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 449 and 450 together.

Trade is one of the most powerful engines of economic growth and ultimately of poverty reduction in developing countries. The Government is committed to the WTO Doha ministerial declaration and to the integration of developing countries into the global trading system. The Fairtrade mark is an independent assurance that producers in developing countries receive a fair price for their products. It provides a vital opportunity for producers in the poorest developing countries to access international markets on fair terms of trade. I fully support the objectives of the Fairtrade campaign. It provides an opportunity for people in Ireland to make a practical contribution to improving the conditions of producers in developing countries. On the Deputy's suggestion that Fairtrade products be used in my Department, I am glad to confirm that this is already the case.

Since 1996, Development Co-operation Ireland has been making grant aid available to Fairtrade Mark Ireland, the national fair trade labelling organisation. Fairtrade Mark Ireland received a grant of €40,994 in 2004 through the development education grants scheme to support its main activities, including promotion of the concept of fair trade with businesses; development education; and raising public awareness, in particular through the Fairtrade fortnight and the Fairtrade towns initiative.

Development Co-operation Ireland is also assisting community-based Fairtrade agricultural projects in Central America. Over the three-year period 2003 to 2005, funding of €567,000 has been provided to promote access to fair-traded marketing options for coffee co-operatives in Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Funding is channelled through the regional office of the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation based in El Salvador. Del Campo, a Fairtrade certified co-operative in Nicaragua, has received funding of €187,000 to support small grain producers over three years to process and market a variety of products, including sesame seed.