Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the imprisonment of the main opposition leader in Ethiopia and on the curtailment of political rights in a country that is a bilateral partner of the Irish Aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5238/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As a long-standing development partner of Ethiopia, Ireland greatly regrets the narrowing of the political space for opposition parties, the press and civil society, which we have observed in the country since 2005. We believe that the strengthening of democracy is a key element in the economic development process, and we regularly communicate this to our Ethiopian partners.

As a vice-president of the now-defunct Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), Ms. Birtukan Medeksa was among the opposition activists who were imprisoned in the aftermath of the 2005 elections in Ethiopia and the ensuing violence. Almost all of these detainees were pardoned and released in 2007, on condition that they admitted to errors in the post-election period. However, in December 2008, Birtukan Medeksa, now the leader of a new opposition party called Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), was re-arrested. It is believed that the Government of Ethiopia considers that statements which she made about the 2007 pardon process violated the terms of her pardon. I am concerned about the implications of the re-arrest of such a prominent opposition figure, particularly in view of the fact that national elections are due to take place next year. I have asked our Embassy in Addis Ababa to continue to monitor the situation closely with a view to clarifying the circumstances of Ms. Medeksa's re-arrest.

Our concerns about the curtailment of democratic rights go beyond one individual. Ireland and the EU argued last year against certain provisions of the Charities and Societies Law, and we were deeply disappointed when, in January 2009, it was passed in its current form. We are concerned about the potential impact on NGOs and we will continue to make our views known, as we monitor how the law is implemented. Ireland has also been to the fore in voicing concerns about the troubled Ogaden region of Ethiopia, where we believe that efforts to restore order should take better account of the need to minimise the impact of the conflict on ordinary people. Forthright expression of our views, where necessary, is an essential element of our partnership with Ethiopia.

As regards development assistance, Ethiopia remains one of the poorest countries in the world — last year, it was ranked 169th out of 177 countries on the UNDP Human Development Index. It has been one of Ireland's Programme Countries since 1994. It is a difficult environment in which to work, although it has made remarkable progress in recent years. I believe that Irish funding in Ethiopia makes a real and tangible difference to the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable people there.

Irish Aid provided over €47 million to development programmes in Ethiopia in 2008, of which approximately €23 million was allocated to a social 'safety net' programme targeting the poorest Ethiopians, €5 million to addressing the humanitarian crisis and €1.8 million on HIV/AIDS programmes. In addition NGOs including Concern, GOAL, Trócaire and Self Help Development International received over €10 million to support their development efforts in Ethiopia.

Our aid programmes are carefully monitored by our Embassy and are externally evaluated in accordance with established practice. Where assistance is channelled through Government ministries and regional authorities, it is ring-fenced for spending on basic needs programmes such as the building of schools, the training of health workers and teacher training. I believe it is right to remain engaged in Ethiopia, where food security will remain a vital issue in the period ahead, and to do so in close cooperation with our donor partners. The reality is that every day our support is saving lives, helping to rebuild livelihoods and giving hope to some of the most vulnerable people in the world.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of aid given to Ethiopia in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5309/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world and has been one of Ireland's Programme Countries since 1994. Through Irish Aid, the Government provided over €47 million for development programmes and projects in Ethiopia in 2008. Assistance addressed a wide range of basic needs, with an emphasis on health, education, food security and governance. For example, some €23 million was allocated to a social safety net programme designed to ensure that over seven million desperately poor Ethiopians were provided with cash or food in exchange for labour.

Ethiopia been particularly hard hit in recent years as a result of the persistent drought across the Horn of Africa. The lives of millions have been placed in danger. In 2008, Irish Aid allocated €5 million under the country programme to help tackle the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia . A further €1.8 million was provided to improve services for people affected by HIV and AIDS. Over €3 million was allocated to a capacity building programme designed to reduce poverty in the Tigray region of the country. In addition to this funding, some €2.2 million was allocated to Non Governmental Organisations including Concern, Goal and Trócaire to provide emergency responses to vulnerable communities.

The Government also provided €8.4 million to Irish missionaries and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), including Concern, Goal, Self Help Development International and Trócaire, in support of their longer term development work in Ethiopia.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the funding that will be provided by Irish Aid in 2009 for pro-poor agricultural research which helps farmers increase productivity and become food sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5236/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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An estimated 125 million people in developing countries were driven into extreme poverty because of the surge in global food prices since 2006; the number of hungry now stands at almost one billion. Agricultural research and innovation are critical in order to increase yields and form essential components of the longer term response to the global food security crisis. This was highlighted in the report of Ireland's Hunger Task Force, which recommended support for "an explicit research agenda that contributes significantly to the elimination of hunger and the development of resilient food systems."

I have welcomed this recommendation. Irish Aid's support for pro-poor agricultural research is provided primarily through the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). CGIAR is an alliance of international agricultural research centres, partners and donors, which together mobilise top-quality agricultural research for the benefit of the poor.

In 2009, we have allocated €5 million in core support for the CGIAR system, focused primarily on eight centres which conduct research on crops, livestock, water management, agro-forestry and food policy. In addition, Irish Aid supports specific initiatives by CGIAR partners in our Programme Countries. CGIAR research is practical and results focused and I witnessed some of its benefits when I visited Malawi last year. It is making a real difference in the lives of the rural poor.

Support to CGIAR centres in 2009 will be complemented by a contribution of €1 million to the Global Crop Diversity Trust, the objective of which is to ensure the conservation and availability of crop diversity for food security worldwide. Conserving the vast diversity of crop varieties is essential if farmers and plant breeders are to have the raw materials needed to improve and adapt their crops to meet future challenges, including climate change and a growing world population.