Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the nature of the agreement signed on 29 September 2006 with former president Mr. Bill Clinton to fight HIV and AIDS in Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31611/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the nature of the agreement signed on 29 September 2006 with former President Mr. Bill Clinton to fight HIV and AIDS in Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34491/06]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 151 together.

HIV/AIDS is one of the foremost challenges in development, especially in Africa. The recently launched White Paper on Irish Aid reaffirms the priority attached by the Government to addressing the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Institution provides assistance to countries to implement care, treatment and prevention programmes that can reverse the course of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Three years ago the Government signed an agreement with President Clinton, committing the Government to allocating 50 million US dollars to HIV/AIDS treatment programmes in developing countries. Mozambique was selected as the initial country of focus for the partnership. It is greatly affected by HIV with more than 16% of adults infected. The additional resources have enabled the Government of Mozambique to successfully introduce HIV treatment into its public health response to HIV/AIDS. At the end of June, over 27,000 people were on treatment. Excellent progress has been made, but this is only 10% of those needing treatment and there are still big challenges ahead.

Having regard to the results achieved to date, the challenges still faced, and an interim review of the partnership, the Government has decided to extend the partnership with the Clinton Foundation in Mozambique. A new development is that the partnership is being expanded to Lesotho. Lesotho, one of Irish Aid's partner countries, has one of the worst rates of HIV in the world and this is both a human tragedy and a tremendous barrier to development.

On 29th September, the Taoiseach signed a new agreement with President Clinton. This agreement builds on the existing partnership and commits the Government to continue working with the Foundation up to 2010. The agreement commits Irish Aid to work jointly with the Foundation in Mozambique and Lesotho towards the achievement of three goals:- to provide financial and technical support towards the implementation of national plans for the prevention, treatment, care and support of people affected by HIV/AIDS; to contribute towards the strengthening of the health system; and to respond to the crisis of human resources for health.

Of the €70 million committed to the partnership with the Clinton Foundation, €60 million will go to Mozambique and €10 million to Lesotho. This support will be channelled through Ireland's missions in each country to the respective Ministries of Health. Irish Aid will meet with representatives from the Clinton Foundation in these countries on a regular basis to review cooperation and ensure the continued success of the partnership.

This is an important partnership and represents a major contribution by the Government to fighting HIV/AIDS and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.