Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of support given by Development Co-operation Ireland towards pro-democracy initiatives around the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26913/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's programme of assistance to developing countries reflects our long-standing commitment to human rights and fairness in international relations and the recognition that democratisation, good governance and the promotion of human rights are as important as economic policy and reform for reducing poverty and achieving development.

Support to good governance and democratisation is now a major priority area of expenditure in the development co-operation programme, accounting for more than €88 million in 2004. It includes assistance towards building democratic systems of government that are underpinned by free and fair elections; strengthening the rule of law, including legal and judicial systems, promoting access to justice by the poor; supporting the development of an objective and independent judiciary; public sector reform initiatives that help to build systems and ensure better quality of service delivery to the poor; enhancing respect for human rights by promoting the protection of fundamental rights, civil, political, social, economic and cultural; improving transparency and accountability through initiatives to enhance public financial management and audit systems; support for public watchdog institutions, parliamentary reform and the independent media; and building the capacity of civil society to influence and monitor public policy decisions.

Last year, Development Co-operation Ireland supported pro-democracy initiatives in 17 countries worldwide in the areas of: support for NGO-based pro-democracy initiatives — four countries; support for election monitoring — nine countries; and support through the country programme budget of Development Co-operation Ireland in the priority programme countries — four countries.

It is important to note that, whereas these programmes represent our main targeted expenditure in this area, the overall expenditure figure includes a proportion of the budgets allocated to our programme countries due to the cross-cutting importance of good governance and democratisation.

Development Co-operation Ireland also gives funding to a number of locally based NGOs engaged in strengthening democratic systems. Examples of the type of programme supported include the following. In Sierra Leone, funds totalling €116,000 have been disbursed this year to support democratisation through the accountability in local government initiative which seeks to encourage citizens to take an active role in local development planning, local government meetings and the preparation and monitoring of budgets. This project is being implemented by the national accountability group of Sierra Leone, a civil society coalition of individuals and groups dedicated to increasing government accountability and curbing corruption in Sierra Leone and neighbouring countries.

In Peru, a total of €314,342 has been allocated over the three years from 2004 to 2006 for a democratisation and reconciliation project. Ireland has joined together with other international donors to support this project which aims to contribute to the human development, democratisation and construction of a culture of peace in indigenous communities affected by the armed conflict in Peru.

In 2004, expenditure on election monitoring amounted to €95,355 on nine missions, mobilising 43 election observers. In 2005 to date, there have been nine election monitoring missions: Albania, Afghanistan, Burundi, Ethiopia, FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia — FYROM, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia and Palestine. This has involved mobilising 32 short-term observers, STOs, and two long-term observers, LTOs, one to Ethiopia and one to Liberia. Preparations are under way for three further missions to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Haiti, mobilising in the region of 14 to 16 further short-term observers. Expenditure in 2005 has been €70,945.

Good governance is a key component in all of Development Co-operation Ireland's bilateral country programmes. For example, in Uganda, Ireland is providing support for the justice, law and order sector of €3 million in 2005, targeted at improving citizens' access to justice. In Tanzania, approximately €4 million has been allocated this year in support of governance initiatives while in Mozambique we provide €3 million to good governance and public sector reform. In Timor-Leste, East Timor, support totalling almost €450,000 in 2004 has been provided for the creation of the institutions of government and the establishment of the legislative and regulatory framework. In the case of Development Co-operation Ireland's new country programme in Vietnam, it is envisaged that support will be provided to strengthen the capacity of the national assembly in the oversight of government in the interests of increasing transparency and accountability and to facilitate democracy.