Written answers

Thursday, 28 May 2009

Department of Foreign Affairs

Overseas Development Aid

3:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the international community is combating the problem of AIDS in Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21987/09]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The international community has demonstrated real commitment to combat HIV and AIDS and its consequences through a number of high profile agreements that include the Millennium Development Goals universally supported in 2000, the commitment signed by 189 UN Member States following the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV and AIDS in 2001, and the special commitment made in 2005 by the G8 grouping to support universal access to treatment.

Ireland, through Irish Aid, is supporting actions to address HIV and AIDS through expenditures of more than €100 million a year to address that disease and other communicable diseases. This commitment by Ireland has been recognised by the OECD in the Peer Review published earlier this month.

Progress towards these international commitments has been impressive. The UNAIDS world report for 2008 points to a six-fold increase in funding available for HIV and AIDS in this decade so far and describes a remarkable boost in delivery of important HIV and AIDS services and activities at global, regional and country levels, with very particular emphasis in those countries most affected. A notable and valuable development has been the unprecedented number of civil society groups that have become active in HIV and AIDS work and have joined hands with their government counterparts to more effectively tackle common challenges through partnerships.

It is possible to sustain and replicate the gains we see today with effective global and national leadership and with commitment by donors to support HIV and AIDS services and activities. Ireland continues to promote the need for leadership and engagement at the highest political level internationally, in order to push back this pandemic. At country level, Ireland works closely with and supports national leadership to hold the ground already gained and to continue to make further progress.

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