Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the international community is achieving its targets in relation to addressing the issues of AIDS, war and starvation in Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39821/06]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The complex series of factors, which contribute to the enormous needs we encounter in Africa, include food insecurity, poverty, environmental degradation, weak governmental capacity and policies, unequal global trading relationships, protracted conflict, severe infrastructural weaknesses, poor governance, debt and the effects of HIV/AIDS.

Addressing Africa's needs, especially the interests of the poorest and most vulnerable, necessitates a comprehensive and coordinated series of actions by the international community and African Governments. In order to measure development progress and to set benchmarks, the United Nations have developed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were endorsed by world leaders in 2000. While the MDGs are undoubtedly ambitious, they can be reached if all stakeholders, the affected countries themselves, the donor community, the UN and EU work together to ensure that poverty reduction, good governance and sustainable development are the cornerstones of all our efforts in Africa.

For Ireland, Africa is at the heart of the programme of official development assistance and our approach has a number of distinct but complementary elements. As regards the immediate challenges of natural disasters, conflict and food crisis, our humanitarian budget is a key instrument in meeting immediate needs. Our recovery and long-term development programmes seek to assist countries emerging from natural and man-made emergencies and also address the underlying causes of poverty in all its manifestations.

Long-term development is the core of our aid programme in Africa. We have a strong partnership with six countries in sub-Saharan Africa, namely Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. We are assisting the Governments and peoples of these programme countries to address the fundamental causes of poverty through promoting good governance, delivery of essential basic needs, including the fight against HIV/AIDS and promoting economic growth.

In addition, we work in many other African countries, either directly or through our partnerships with the United Nations, the Red Cross family and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as Concern, GOAL, Trócaire, Oxfam and others. In the context of an increasing aid budget, as we approach the UN target of 0.7% of GNP by 2012, these interventions are being further strengthened through enhanced support at the global and country levels.

Ireland's approach to efforts to promote security and stability in Africa includes our contribution to the security and stability of Liberia through the deployment of troops with Ireland's approach to efforts to promote security and stability in Africa includes our contribution to the security and stability of Liberia through the deployment of troops with UNMIL, the UN Mission in Liberia, since 2003. Ireland has also provided assistance to the African Union (AU) Mission in Sudan (AMIS), as part of the EU's joint actions to foster peace and security in Darfur. In addition, we have pledged support to the UN's Peace Building Fund and have been strongly supportive of the establishment of the Peace Building Commission. We are actively seeking ways to support regional organisations in Africa, particularly the AU, which represents an important strategic partner for the European Union and the international community generally.

The challenges facing Africa are enormous but there is some encouraging news. Many African economies are growing. Inflation, now averaging 8% a year, is at its lowest level in many African countries since soon after independence. While there are exceptions such as Somalia, Zimbabwe and others, many African countries now have less violence and civil strife than for many years. There is relative peace in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Angola and southern Sudan. We must build on progress. We must address continuing needs. Through our growing aid programme, we will continue to make a difference on the ground in Africa and to work with all donors, including the UN and EU, to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of the poorest in Africa.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the democratic process is developing in the various African countries; the efforts by the wider or world community to pursue such objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39824/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Considerable progress has made in spreading and deepening democracy in Africa in recent years. Most African countries have evolved from authoritarian to more democratic systems with elections now becoming the only acceptable basis for choosing and changing leadership; many States are working to ensure that the executive and legislative arms of government reflect the diversity of their people; and most Governments are facilitating increased public participation in the political process. While credit for this progress must go primarily to the relevant African States, international bodies and donors have also played an important supporting role.

However, there remain a number of African states which are in no way democratic. Moreover, in many countries problems remain with regard to the independence and institutional capacity of parliament, the judiciary, the media and civil society. All these institutions provide the checks and balances needed for democracy to function fully. Weaknesses in African civil services and corruption are also major challenges.

The African Union (AU), founded in 2002, is doing much to encourage the positive trend. One of the key objectives of its Constitutive Act is to "promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance", while the Act also provides for suspension from the Union of Governments who come to power through unconstitutional means.

The AU's socioeconomic initiative, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), has established a ground-breaking mechanism for promoting democracy in the region, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). This promotes better governance through reports on the policies and actions of AU member states and follow-up recommendations which are reviewed by a forum consisting of the Heads of State of participating countries. 26 African States have joined the process. The first two APRM reviews finalised, on Ghana and Rwanda, were strong and critical. Ireland has already provided €300,000 to strengthen the NEPAD secretariat and will engage with the African Union on how best to support implementation of APRM recommendations at country level. Other EU member states and the European Commission also support the APRM.

The UN, the World Bank and the OECD's Development Assistance Committee are increasingly engaged in supporting democratic governance in Africa, The European Union also plays a key role, through activities ranging from diplomatic engagement to support for local civic education programs. The EU/ACP Cotonou Agreement, which requires partners to meet standards with regard to respect for democratic principals and the rule of law, has been used widely to encourage democratisation. Work is currently underway to harmonise and better co-ordinate the many ways in which the EU Member States and EU institutions are supporting democratisation in Africa.

Ireland is actively supporting democratisation in Africa. In the White Paper on Irish Aid, the building and strengthening of democracy is defined as a guiding principle for our aid programme. A significant proportion of the budget of Irish Aid is spent on programmes that support governance reform and democratisation in the region. This is provided both through multilateral agencies and in the programme countries. Ireland funds parliamentary and public sector reform, improved legal systems and development of effective oversight institutions such as auditors-general and anti-corruption agencies. We also support civil society organisations and independent media which hold Governments to account.

In 2006 Irish observers participated in EU election observation missions in Uganda, Zambia, Mauritania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We also provide targeted support where special needs are identified. This year we provided €1.3 million for the Presidential and parliamentary elections in the DRC, one of the most important elections held in Africa for many years.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the ongoing situation in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39825/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The overall political, economic and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate. Inflation in Zimbabwe is now estimated to be 1200%, the highest in the world, while unemployment is estimated to be around 80%. There continue to be severe food shortages in the country, with over one million people currently requiring sustained food assistance. The dire political and economic conditions have led to large-scale emigration, with at least 2 million Zimbabweans now judged to be living illegally in South Africa.

There is at yet no indication that the Zimbabwean Government is willing to alter the policies which have brought about this situation, or to introduce those democratic and economic reforms long called for by the international community and which, if introduced, would positively influence relations with Zimbabwe. On the contrary, we have seen increased repression, with large-scale arrests of peaceful demonstrators and credible reports of trade union leaders being seriously ill-treated in police detention following a peaceful protest march in Harare last September. There is also no evidence of serious efforts by the Zimbabwean government to re-house the many hundreds of thousands of people left homeless, following Operation Murambatsvina, launched in May 2005.

Against this background, there is little scope for a fundamental review of the restrictive measures which the EU has imposed against Zimbabwe since February 2002. The restrictive measures, involving a travel ban, assets freeze and arms embargo, were renewed last February for a further period of twelve months. These measures are very much targeted at the Mugabe regime, and not at the people of Zimbabwe. The EU has also suspended its development cooperation with Zimbabwe, although certain types of cooperation involving the provision of basic services are exempted, with a view to avoiding an adverse effect on the population.

It is clear that international pressure needs to be maintained on the Mugabe Government to alter its current policies. Ireland and our EU partners are determined to continue working with others in the international community, including our partners in Africa who can exert particular influence, to help promote democratic change in Zimbabwe. I discussed the current situation in Zimbabwe with the South African Deputy President during her visit to Dublin on 16 November and urged South Africa to continue its efforts to influence the situation positively.

The Government's concerns were also conveyed at a meeting on 23 October between senior officials of my Department and the new Zimbabwean Ambassador to Ireland. EU Ambassadors in Zimbabwe, including Ireland's, are also maintaining contact with all those within Zimbabwean society who may be in a position to influence positive change.

The Government is continuing to make available humanitarian assistance to the people of Zimbabwe. Since 2004 Ireland has committed over €13 million in aid to Zimbabwe, including €3.7 million this year to address emergency needs. The largest proportion of this funding is for immediate humanitarian needs, particularly the provision of food assistance. Ireland is also providing funding to mitigate the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Zimbabwe which is estimated to infect 25% of the population. Earlier this year Ireland approved a new programme of funding for HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe amounting to €7.5m over the years 2006-2008.