Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the systems in place in Development Co-operation Ireland to ensure that fair trade products are used within that department in as many areas as possible; if he will provide examples of products purchased by his Department which fall under the fair trade system; the advocacy activities he has engaged in to influence other Departments to engage in fair trade purchasing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18544/05]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department uses identical criteria to other Government Departments when seeking to obtain food and beverage products. [18714/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 171 together.

Like all Departments, the Department of Foreign Affairs uses the Department of Finance public procurement guidelines for all significant purchases. As the purchase of food and beverage products generally falls below EU threshold values, the criteria for low value requirements contained in the guidelines are applied.

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 and also for people in Ireland to make a practical contribution to improving the conditions of producers in developing countries.

I am glad to confirm that Fairtrade products, such as tea and coffee, are used in the Department of Foreign Affairs, where feasible, including at events organised for visiting dignitaries. I fully support the objectives of the Fairtrade campaign and would encourage my colleagues to use Fairtrade products where possible.

The Deputy may also wish to note that Development Cooperation Ireland has a proactive fair trade policy. Since 1996, Development Cooperation Ireland has been making grant aid available to Fairtrade Mark Ireland, the national fair trade labelling organisation. In 2004, Fairtrade Mark Ireland received a grant of €40,994 and grants totalling €410,000 for the period 2005 to 2007 have been approved under the development education grants scheme to support their main activities. These activities include: promoting the concept of fair trade with businesses and consumers; promoting development education activities; and raising public awareness, in particular through the Fairtrade Fortnight, the Fair Trade Towns Initiative and a new Fair Trade Africa Festival.

In addition, funding of €567,000 over the three-year period 2003 to 2005 is being provided to promote access to fairly traded marketing options for coffee cooperatives in Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Funding is also provided through the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation, FLO, International, which operates through its regional liaison office based in El Salvador.

Funding of €187,000 over three years is also being provided by Development Cooperation Ireland to Del Campo, a Fairtrade certified co-operative, to support small grain producers in Nicaragua to process and market a variety of products including sesame seed.