Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs in view of the recently announced commitment that Ireland will contribute €100 million to help developing nations cope with the effects of climate change if this funding will come from existing overseas aid budget or if it will be a separate funding measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47749/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach will travel to Copenhagen today to head Ireland's delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in the final days of the negotiations for an ambitious new climate change agreement. Earlier this week, I attended a meeting of EU Development Ministers in Copenhagen in order to underline the importance of the links between climate change and development. We held discussions with Ministers from a number of developing countries, focusing on ways in which the EU can support them in responding to the enormous challenges of climate change.

The Government and our EU partners recognise that significantly increased financial resources will be required in order to support developing countries as they cope with the impact of climate change. The EU has also stated clearly that climate change financing must not undermine or jeopardise the fight against poverty. At last week's meeting of the European Council in Brussels, it was agreed that the EU and its Member States would contribute €2.4 billion annually in fast-start funding for the three years 2010 to 2012 to support the climate change needs of developing countries. The Taoiseach pledged that Ireland would contribute up to €100 million over this three-year period.

Climate change financing must be adequate, reliable and predictable, and it must be delivered in a way that complements development assistance. The exact composition of Ireland's package of fast-start funding will be finalised by the Government. It will include new and additional funding for developing countries.