Written answers

Tuesday, 13 June 2006

Department of Foreign Affairs

Overseas Development Aid

9:00 pm

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount from 1997 to date in 2006 expended in each year in support of foundations associated or under the control of former President of the United States Bill Clinton; the breakdown of direct donations by the Irish Aid programme to such foundations and the ancillary costs met or undertaken by the Aid programme or the Department of Foreign Affairs in respect of the work of such programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22591/06]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in relation to the proposed visit to Ireland by former US President Clinton the visit has any function in respect of the Irish Aid programme; the functions arranged for the former President's visit; the persons who will be invitees at such functions; if the Government or his Department will bear the cost of such functions and the costs associated with travel and other expenses of the former President; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22592/06]

Photo of Conor LenihanConor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together.

In July 2003, the Taoiseach signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the William J Clinton Presidential Foundation. This Memorandum of Understanding outlines a framework of cooperation between the Clinton Foundation and Irish Aid, to work in partnership with developing country governments and with other relevant international organisations on HIV/AIDS. The aim of the partnership is to provide financial and technical support to assist in the preparation of integrated HIV and AIDS treatment, care and prevention programmes in Africa.

The Government, through the aid programme, committed an amount of €50 million for the five year period 2003-7. These funds are not donated to the Clinton Foundation. They are directed at National HIV/AIDS Control programmes in highly affected countries, which the Foundation is also assisting.

The initial focus of this partnership is with the Government of Mozambique. An amount of €40 million has been approved to support the implementation of the HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Health from 2003-2007. To date an amount of €22 million has been released, with a balance of €6 million to be released later this year and €12 million is committed for 2007. These funds have facilitated the recruitment of a technical specialist by Irish Aid, whose role is to manage and oversee the effective use of these funds. We are currently exploring how the remainder of the total amount of funds committed can be directed at supporting the expansion of HIV service delivery in another country.

A mid term review of Ireland's Clinton Foundation Partnership in Mozambique has recently been undertaken. This has demonstrated that substantial early gains are being made. Under the leadership of the Government of Mozambique, Ireland and the Clinton Foundation have made a major contribution to that country's achievement in reaching, and in some cases exceeding its HIV related service targets. At the end of 2005, over 20,000 people were on anti-retroviral therapy; 75,000 women accessed services for the prevention of mother to child transmission; 270,000 people accessed voluntary HIV counselling and testing services and 35,000 people were receiving home based care.

President Clinton has indicated his wish to visit Ireland, possibly later this year, to discuss the partnership between his Foundation and the Government. No date has yet been agreed for the proposed visit.

Ireland is now one of the world's leading donors in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Speaking at the UN General Assembly last week, the Taoiseach reaffirmed Ireland's political and financial commitment to the global HIV/AIDS response. He outlined how Ireland is spending the €100 million which has been allocated to HIV/AIDS and other diseases of poverty. He also called for renewed global leadership and a better resourced and focused response to HIV/AIDS.

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