Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action the Government is taking to support the Pan-African Parliament; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8108/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Pan-African Parliament, PAP, was established under Article 5 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union as one of the key organs of the union. It was inaugurated in Addis Ababa on 18 March 2004. It will initially function as a consultative and advisory body with the eventual aim of exercising full legislative powers. Promotion of good governance and the principles of human rights and democracy in member states are specified functions of the PAP. Furthermore, the PAP is charged with the publicity function of familiarising the peoples of Africa with the policies and objectives of the African Union.

The PAP is composed of 230 members from 46 of the 53 member states of the African Union. It is stipulated that at least one woman should be included in each delegation and that appointments should reflect national diversity. The President of the Parliament, Mrs. Gertrude Mongela MP of Tanzania, is assisted by four Vice-Presidents who represent south, north, central and west Africa. In July 2004, it was agreed that South Africa would host the PAP on a permanent basis.

In November 2005, the PAP agreed a strategic plan for 2006-10. This project was supported by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UNDESA, and a member of the European Parliament participated in the drafting. The purpose of this document is to provide a framework for the PAP's work in the coming period. Strengthening the funding of PAP is identified in this document as a key institutional objective.

The PAP has established working relationships with organisations of parliamentarians in Europe — Association of Western European Parliamentarians for Africa and the Council of the European Parliament — Canada and India. A number of other such organisations as well as specialised agencies have been identified by the PAP as potential future partners.

The PAP is funded by the AU Commission and by South Africa as host country. It has also been agreed that member states will bear the costs of preparation and attendance at the PAP by national delegates for the first five years of its existence. In April 2005, during its third ordinary session, the PAP established a trust fund as an alternative source of funding. The trust fund concept includes financial resources but also provision of expertise, technology and outsourcing facilities as well as the transfer of knowledge and skills from other parliamentary institutions. Development of the trust fund is still, I understand, at an early stage. However, provision is being made by the European Commission for funding under the EU-Africa strategy with discussions on modalities due to begin in the next weeks. Ireland has not to date been approached in regard to the trust fund. If the issue arises, we will consider it carefully.