Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 150: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the task and membership of the hunger task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3807/08]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The establishment of a Hunger Task Force was one of the recommendations of the White Paper on Irish Aid published in September 2006. The aim of the Hunger Task Force is to identify the additional, appropriate and effective contributions that Ireland can make to international efforts to reduce hunger.

The first meeting of the Hunger Task Force took place in Dublin on 14 September 2007 and the second in University College Cork on 16 November 2007. The next meeting will include a field visit to Malawi and will take place from the 27 to 29 February 2008 in Lilongwe.

The Hunger Task Force will issue its report around the middle of 2008. The report will outline a number of key actions which Ireland can take to give practical leadership internationally on the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of those who suffer from hunger by 2015.

Members of the Hunger Task Force include a number of renowned national and international experts in the field of food security and development. A list of their names is set out below.

Mr Joe Walsh, Chairman

Ms Nancy Aburi

Dr Pamela K. Anderson, International Potato Centre

Mr Tom Arnold, Concern Worldwide

Bono (Paul David Hewson)

Mr Kevin Farrell, World Food Programme, Zimbabwe

Professor Michael Gibney, UCD

Professor Lawrence Haddad, UK Institute of Development Studies

Mr Justin Kilcullen, Trócaire

Professor Denis Lucey, UCC

Mr Aidan O'Driscoll, Department of Agriculture

Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, Columbia University

Ms Josette Sheeran, World Food Programme

Ms Sheila Sisulu, World Food Programme