Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the position in relation to the proposed reforms of the United Nations Central Emergency Revolving Fund, aimed at providing United Nations agencies with the means to respond and anticipate crises such as food crises. [25267/06]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has been strongly supportive of the reforms which have taken place in what was formerly known as the Central Emergency Revolving Fund (CERF).

The new Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) was brought into being by a General Assembly resolution last December. Previously, the CERF was a loan-based mechanism which provided resources to UN agencies from a $50 million reserve, only when the agency had guaranteed funding pledged by a donor.

As part of the Humanitarian Response Review commissioned by the UN and carried out last year, it was recommended that the CERF be enhanced as a grant-based mechanism providing UN agencies and eventually Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with funding for both sudden-onset emergencies, as well as for so-called forgotten or neglected emergencies. It is intended that the CERF reach $500 million in funds. To date, it has achieved funding of some $300 million. It will be replenished at regular intervals by donors.

When it was first proposed that a standing fund be established, Ireland commissioned a review of the practicalities of reforming the CERF. This review was shared with our UN partners and other Government partners and contributed to the progress towards the reform of the CERF. The new Fund is being managed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, the UN's top humanitarian official, on behalf of the Secretary-General. In addition, an advisory group has been established to oversee its workings. The CEO of Concern, Mr. Tom Arnold, was appointed as the only NGO representative on the Advisory Group. It will provide advice to the Secretary-General on the use of the Fund.

Already this year, CERF funds have been released for the drought in the Horn of Africa and for humanitarian needs in the initial period of the violence in East Timor in recent weeks. I will continue to closely monitor the progress of this new tool to ensure that it effectively fulfils its intended role of strengthening the system of global humanitarian response.