Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of his Department's refusal to publish Irish Aid audits in relation to eight countries due to the fact that disclosure of this information could be detrimental to Ireland's international relations with partner governments and international organisations, Irish Exchequer funding is being, or has been, during his tenure, directed towards non-governmental organisation groups based inside Cuba or elsewhere which are dedicated to promoting democracy, free trade unions or civil society in Cuba; if so, the names of the recipient groups; the location of their registered offices; the amount each received and when; if receipts were issued for the money; the specific aims of the projects funded; the reported outcome of same; if his attention has been drawn to plans to fund such groups in the future either at national or European level; if the release of information related to the funding of such projects would be detrimental to Ireland's international relations with partner governments and international organisations; and if so, if he is likely to tell this Deputy about it. [12912/08]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The reports to which the Deputy refers relate to internal audit work by the Evaluation and Audit Unit of Irish Aid. Internal audit is a key element of the governance arrangements for the Aid Programme. The practice with internal audits is that the Unit operates in a confidential manner in order to help ensure that its ability to operate effectively is not inhibited in any way. This approach, which involves using internal audits as a management tool, assists and facilitates Irish Aid in strengthening internal control and oversight systems in partner organisations, which, in turn, contributes to the governance and overall effectiveness of the Aid Programme.

The work of the Evaluation and Audit Unit is overseen by the Department's independent Audit Committee. The Audit Committee also meets regularly with the Secretary General and, annually, with the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Irish Aid remains fully committed to transparency and, in this regard, publishes many key reports. These include: the Annual Report of the Audit Committee (the 2006 report is available at www.dfa.ie ), Value for Money Reviews, major programme evaluations and other policy documents.

The Aid Programme focuses on poverty alleviation among the poorest people of the world, including through the provision of funding to non-governmental organisations for sustainable development programmes and projects. Finally, in response to the Deputy's specific question on Cuba, Irish Aid has channelled funding to Cuba in the past through UNICEF and Trócaire but has currently no requests before it for funding.