Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 425: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps being taken by his Department to increase international action on maternal health issues in view of the adoption of a new UN target to achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015 under Millennium Goal 5, adopted in order to reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5036/07]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 426: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps being taken by his Department to develop an Irish Aid strategy which addresses the rate of maternity mortality and the unmet need for modern contraception in view of the adoption of a new UN target to achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015 under Millennium Goal 5, adopted in order to reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5037/07]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 427: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of contributions made to the UNFPA in 2006; if his Department has developed a target for Irish funding of UNFPA for 2007; the basis upon which the amount of this allocation is decided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5038/07]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 428: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if in view of the projected population growth in sub-Saharan Africa, high maternal and infant mortality rates and the high level of AIDS and HIV infection, his Department will consider directly funding sexual and reproductive health programmes, operated by local non-governmental organisations in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5039/07]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 429: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps his Department will take to address 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer, of which 90% are in developing countries; and if he will support the provision of the new vaccine against human papillomavirus, the virus which causes cervical cancer. [5041/07]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 to 429, inclusive, together.

Universal access to reproductive health is one of the goals of the Programme of Action agreed at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994. The Government is committed to action in support of this goal, which is essential to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates and tackling HIV and AIDS. Limited progress has been made since the Cairo conference in 1994. Reproductive health problems account for 18% of the total global burden of disease and, tragically, half a million women die every year from complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Underlying this tragedy is the lack of access by women, especially in developing countries, to good quality maternal and reproductive health services, including family planning. The Government welcomes the new UN target under Millennium Development Goal 5 to achieve universal access to reproductive health. This will provide much-needed impetus to international action to improve women's health and reduce maternal illness and death.

The White Paper on Irish Aid outlines the Government's commitment to supporting the specific health needs of women within our overall approach to health in developing countries. It states that 'addressing women's health needs, particularly in the areas of basic health care and maternal and reproductive health must lie at the heart of an effective overall response to improving health in developing countries'. This approach is also central to how Ireland's response to HIV/AIDS might better address the needs of women. A strategy document setting out Irish Aid's policy on health is being finalised. It will address the issues of maternal mortality and the unmet need for contraception. Through its country programmes and support for international organisations, Irish Aid will continue to promote the particular health needs of women, emphasising reproductive health services.

Maternal health is a priority of Irish Aid support for health through bilateral programmes. Funding is provided to support Governments in Ireland's priority countries in sub-Saharan Africa to deliver a package of basic health care, including reproductive health services. Additional support is granted for specific initiatives on maternal health, such as the new midwifery school in Northern Province, Zambia which opened in 2006. Another example is our commitment of €2.3 million in 2006 to a four-year project in Tanzania, Mozambique and Malawi, which aims to improve the provision of maternal health services by mid-level health workers. The Government recognises that local non-governmental organisations play a vital role in the provision of reproductive health services in developing countries, especially in reaching geographically-remote communities and marginalised groups. Irish Aid provides funding to NGOs to complement its support to government programmes. For example, the Government is funding the Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association, which has been successful in the delivery of quality reproductive health services. Our support has enabled this non-governmental organisation to provide voluntary counselling and testing for HIV/AIDS.

In addition to funding through country programmes, Irish Aid works through several partner agencies in the UN system to address maternal health issues and the unmet need for contraception. One of the main barriers to achieving universal access to reproductive health is the lack of empowerment of women in developing countries. These issues form the core mandate of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with which Irish Aid has a close relationship. In light of its important mandate, the Government has increased core funding to UNFPA in the last five years from €1.8m in 2002 to €3.1m in 2006. Additionally, in 2006 the Government made a contribution of €500,000 to the newly established UNFPA Trust Fund for Global Reproductive Health Commodities Security, which aims to ensure that Governments have a constant supply of reproductive health commodities. While the 2007 contribution to UNFPA has yet to be finalised, it is likely it will increase further, in keeping with the overall growth in the Programme budget. Decisions on funding to UN funds, programmes and agencies are based on the priorities outlined in the White Paper, as well as the individual organisation's record in the areas of efficiency, coherence and commitment to reform.

Cancer of the cervix is a leading cause of cancer deaths in women and 90% of cases occur in developing countries. Through its support for reproductive health, the Government assists in widening women's access to services that prevent, detect and manage cancer of the cervix. Effective vaccines have recently been developed for human papillomavirus, which causes 70% of cervical cancers. In December 2006, the Government co-sponsored an international event in London that brought together pharmaceutical companies, UN bodies, non-governmental organisations and donors to examine how best to introduce these new vaccines into developing countries. The vaccines remain expensive ($360 per course) and we will continue to work with other partners to accelerate introduction of the vaccine and make it widely accessible to women in developing countries.