Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to commemorate United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on 17 October 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34082/08]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The eradication of extreme poverty and hunger is the central objective of Ireland's overseas development programme. The programme has a very high international reputation based on its poverty focus and commitment to excellence.

The UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the scale of the challenge. It is appropriate that it falls so soon after the high level event on the Millennium Development Goals at the UN Headquarters in New York in September, in which the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I participated. I believe that our involvement demonstrated the determination of the Government to continue to play an important role in global efforts to combat poverty. The UN event was also the occasion of the launch of the report of the Hunger Task Force, established by the Government to examine how Ireland can make a key contribution to tackling the hunger crisis in the developing world.

On 17 October, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the Minister for Foreign Affairs will address the Biennial Conference of the Irish Forum for Global Health at University College Cork. The Conference will examine global health challenges, focusing on the environment, hunger and diseases of poverty. The Irish Forum for Global Health is supported by Irish Aid.