Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to a statement in his general affairs briefing to the European Affairs Committee that support to the European Movement Ireland is set to be sharply increased in 2006, the funding that is to be given to the European Movement Ireland in 2006; the amount of funding; and if comparable funding will be made available to other groups offering an alternative understanding of the EU. [39524/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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It was announced in the Estimates, subhead E of Vote 28, that contributions to bodies in Ireland engaged in the furtherance of international relations will be increased from €170,000 in 2005 to €280,000 in 2006. This subhead provides for grant assistance to two bodies: the European Movement Ireland and the Irish United Nations Association. In 2006, I propose to provide a grant of €252,000 to the European Movement Ireland. This increased funding will enable it to work to enhance awareness in Ireland of what the EU does and how it does it. This is particularly appropriate during the current period of reflection when the future of Europe is being debated throughout the EU. The Estimates also provide for €205,000 to be available in 2006 under the communicating Europe initiative, CEI. The CEI aims to improve the information available to the public and to promote greater debate and awareness on European issues. The Department of Foreign Affairs, as a corporate member of the Institute of European Affairs, pays a membership fee which was €5,000 in 2005.