Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the funding announced in January 2006 to be given to developing countries to combat avian flu; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7107/06]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Avian flu has become a global threat, with developing countries facing the greatest threat. The virus has recently been detected in Nigeria, and it is probably inevitable that it will spread to other African countries. Compared to countries in Asia and Europe, many African countries lack the capacity to effectively address outbreaks and prevent the avian flu virus becoming rooted in the countryside. The consequences of this are exceptionally serious. Millions of poor families are dependent on poultry as a livelihood and as a food source. Developing countries are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of outbreaks in poultry, due to their high poverty levels and food insecurity. This is quite apart from the health impact of a human pandemic.

Developing countries need to respond to the avian flu threat as a matter of urgency. On the positive side, most are now in the process of developing national plans and strategies. However, many lack the resources to mount an effective national response. Ireland is committed to playing its role in supporting developing countries as part of the global response. At the international conference in Beijing in January, Ireland pledged €1 million for this purpose, with the funding to be focused on developing countries. We will also work through our existing bilateral programmes to help countries to develop their national plans to address both the human health and veterinary aspects of the situation.

In addition to channelling our contribution directly to developing countries, part will be channelled through the World Health Organisation, WHO, which has become the lead agency in co-ordinating the global response to major communicable diseases. In this regard, the organization was extremely effective during the SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome, epidemic in 2003.