Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will, through the EU or the UN, influence a specifically targeted and co-ordinated policy in terms of financial aid, peace-keeping and alleviation of starvation in respect of the most seriously affected African countries; the way in which this might be dealt with in order of priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13089/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the African countries which currently suffer the greatest from strife, war, famine and human rights abuse; the degree to which these issues are likely to be addressed in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13456/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 293: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the African countries currently most vulnerable from war, starvation, human rights abuse and AIDS; the extent to which the international community is in a position to make real progress on these issues in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13462/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 295: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will encourage the international community through the EU or the UN to specifically target the African countries most seriously affected by war, starvation, health and humanitarian issues with a view to providing the necessary peace-keeping, aid and other requirements with the objective of making a positive impact at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13464/06]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 290, 293 and 295 together.

A coherent and co-ordinated approach is vital in addressing the immense needs of the vast continent of Africa, needs which have deepened through a complex combination of factors including food insecurity, poverty, climate change, poor economic growth, conflict, severe infrastructural deficits, poor governance, debt and the effects of HIV-AIDS. That coherent response, namely, the millennium development goals, MDGs, has been developed and refined by the United Nations, the key player in the co-ordination of the global community's response to poverty and suffering in the world today.

The MDGs, fully supported by the leaders of the world and reaffirmed at the UN summit last September, represent the key development targets that must be reached if the challenge of poverty, hunger, disease and lack of development is to be met by 2015. There are eight goals in all, covering the eradication of poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, reducing child and maternal mortality, combating HIV-AIDS and other communicable diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development. This is a comprehensive, ambitious but achievable set of goals. Ireland is fully committed to doing its part to ensure that they are attained.

Irish Aid, the Government's official programme of overseas development assistance, has Africa at its core. Our approach to Africa has a number of different elements, each distinct but complementary. There is the humanitarian budget which responds to both complex and sudden-onset emergencies. Other elements are our recovery and long-term development programmes, which seek to assist countries emerging from natural and man-made emergencies and also address the fundamental causes of poverty in all its manifestations.

The core of our aid programme in Africa concerns the building of strong partnerships with six countries in sub-Saharan Africa, namely, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. In addition, we work in many other African countries, either directly or through our partnerships with non-governmental organisations, NGOs, such as Christian Aid, Concern, GOAL, Oxfam, Trócaire and others. In the context of the increasing budget, as we approach the target of 0.7% by 2012, we are considering a further deepening of the engagement with Africa.

As regards peace-keeping and conflict, Ireland is contributing to the security and stability of Liberia through its deployment of troops with UNMIL, the UN Mission in Liberia, since 2003. We are enhancing our engagement in Liberia on a range of key targets.

Ireland works with and seeks to enhance the effectiveness of the multilateral framework provided by the EU, the UN and regional organisations in Africa, particularly the African Union, AU. Ireland is a strong advocate for the developing world and for international peace and security through our membership of the EU and the UN.

The EU is the world's largest contributor of development co-operation. At the emergency humanitarian level, the EU strives to meet the needs of the most vulnerable and food insecure populations of Africa. In 2005, the European Commission's Humanitarian Office, ECHO, allocated over €240 million in humanitarian assistance to Africa.

We support capacity building both regionally and within African nations to respond to the humanitarian, conflict related and development challenges. Working through the African Union and its New Partnership for Africa's Development, NEPAD, programme, African Governments are showing a determination to address these issues collectively. The African Union represents an important strategic partner for the European Union and one with which ever closer relations are being forged in the interests of promoting peace, security, democracy and development on the African continent. Ireland has provided assistance to the African Union for its mission in Sudan, AMIS, as part of the EU's joint actions to foster peace and security in Darfur.

The European Council in December 2005 adopted a long-term strategy for strengthening relations with Africa. The strategy, which is based on the principles of African ownership, equality and partnership, aims at promoting development, security and good governance in Africa and achieving the millennium development goals, as well as enhanced EU-Africa dialogue.

We face huge challenges in working in Africa. However, a well-planned, co-ordinated and multifaceted global response combining the skills and resources of the international community of donors, EU, UN and AU partners is the only way to tackle those challenges and create a better future for all of the peoples of Africa.