Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way the implementation of the recommendations of the hunger task force has been affected by the reduction in the overseas aid budget in 2009; his plans for implementing these recommendations in 2010 and subsequent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41882/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government are committed to giving effect to the recommendations of the 2008 report of the Hunger Task Force which we commissioned and which was launched by the Taoiseach at the UN in New York in September 2008 in the presence of UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon. In particular, we are working on the three priority areas identified, namely, increasing smallholder agricultural productivity in Africa; targeting under-nutrition (especially maternal and infant); and promoting governance and leadership action on tackling global hunger.

We are making good progress implementing the key recommendations of the Report. Combating hunger is one of the cornerstones of our development programme and our foreign policy. We have undertaken to direct approximately 20% of our overseas development assistance spending on actions related to hunger by 2012, and we are well on track to meet this target, even with the current challenging budgetary situation. Our Special Envoy is working with us to identify opportunities to give effect to the recommendations of the Task Force.

Through Irish Aid, we are supporting, and will continue to support, smallholder and women farmers to intensify their agricultural productivity and produce more food. We are funding pro-poor agricultural research which helps farmers to increase productivity and become food sufficient. We are supporting nutritional interventions, especially those which target infant and maternal malnutrition. We are funding Non Governmental Organisations working with farmers to increase their productivity. We are saving lives and enhancing the quality of life of rural people and we will do more.

Some reorientation of the aid programme is expected in the years ahead as we focus even more on hunger reduction across the programme and as we appraise programmes through a "hunger lens". We will of course ensure that our hunger actions are well coordinated with other pressing matters such as HIV/AIDS, education, gender and good governance. It is unacceptable that one billion go to bed each evening without proper nourishment. We will do our utmost to make a difference on the ground on hunger and we will seek to influence and mobilise the international community to eradicate this scourge once and for all.