Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Foreign Affairs

Overseas Development Aid

10:00 am

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 379: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the money that has been allocated in 2009 and 2010 to address the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents as set out in the international conference on population and development, the Beijing platform for action and millennium development goal 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29242/10]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the money that has been allocated in 2010 to address millennium development goal 5, including its targets, and indicators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29260/10]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 382 together.

The achievement of universal access to reproductive health is one of the objectives of the Programme of Action agreed at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994. It is also an objective of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted in 2000. Specifically, the fifth of the eight MDGs is to reduce the maternal mortality rate by 75% by 2015.

The 2010 Report on progress towards the MDGs which was launched recently by the UN Secretary General, notes that some progress has been achieved in reducing maternal mortality, with significant progress in a number of countries. However, the rate of reduction is still short of the progress needed if the MDG target is to be met. Fewer than half the women giving birth in Sub Saharan Africa are attended by skilled health personnel. Poor women, especially in rural communities, face particular challenges in accessing antenatal care. The UN report also notes that poverty and lack of education continue to contribute to high adolescent birth rates in poor countries. It recognises the link between slow progress on the achievement of universal access to reproductive health care and low levels of empowerment of women and lack of access by girls to secondary education.

Through Irish Aid, the Government is working in close cooperation with a number of key UN agencies in the UN to address maternal health issues in developing countries. The implementation of the Cairo Programme of Action forms part of the core mandate of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with which we have developed a close working partnership. In recognition of the UNFPA's important mandate, the Government has contributed significant levels of funding to the agency in recent years. In total, over the six years 2005 – 2010, the Government has provided €26.5 million for the work of the UNFPA.

In addition, through the bilateral aid programme, Irish Aid's regional programmes on malaria and HIV and AIDS promote interventions which contribute significantly to a reduction in mortality in women of reproductive age. Our support for health sector programmes in African countries in particular, promotes reproductive health and HIV protection for young people. Specific NGO support is also provided to deal with gender based violence. Irish Aid is also supporting maternal health improvements through our global partnerships with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and the International Partnerships for Microbicides.

Ireland has made a specific contribution in recent months to preparations for the review of progress on MDG 5 at the forthcoming Review Summit in New York. Ireland organised a high level panel discussion on maternal mortality at the Commission on the Status of Women at the UN in New York in March. The theme of the event was Overcoming Barriers and Accelerating Progress towards MDG5. Discussions focused on how to accelerate progress between now and 2015, defining a number of key actions for policy makers in advance of the Summit.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 381: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the policies that are in place within Irish Aid to address the health needs of adolescents and young persons, as distinct from children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29244/10]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's White Paper on Irish Aid is the framework governing and guiding Ireland's overseas development programme, including the health sector. This overarching policy framework is further elaborated in documents such as Irish Aid's Health Policy and Strategy (2006) and the HIV and AIDS Policy and Strategy which is presently being updated.

Health development policies emphasise the importance of responding to the health needs of adolescents and young people with particular emphasis on HIV protection for adolescent girls alongside sexual and reproductive health, including maternal health. This emphasis on the health needs of young girls is justified by compelling evidence of a feminisation of the HIV pandemic in Southern Africa and a pattern of poor access to basic health by young women in poorer settings, which contributes to the unacceptably slow progress towards Millennium Development Goal 5, the reduction of maternal mortality.

Ireland's commitment to this policy position is given expression in the Ireland's aid programme through our support to UN Funds, Programmes and Specialised Agencies that work in this area (WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNIFEM, UNAIDS) and through our funding and engagement with Global Health Initiatives such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. Further, Ireland's support for the development of new HIV prevention products is intended to benefit young people in particular, and two regional programmes in Africa dealing with malaria and AIDS give special attention to young women.

In Ireland's Programme Countries, young people's health is addressed through our support to the health sector and the national response to HIV and AIDS. Where appropriate, support is provided directly to in-country initiatives dealing with health issues for young people, for example to the Health Equity Network in Tanzania.

It is widely recognised that education is a key factor in promoting awareness of health issues amongst vulnerable populations, including young people. Ireland's strong record of support for education in developing countries is significant in this regard.

I would like to assure the Deputy that Ireland's overseas development programme will continue to address the health needs of adolescents and young people.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the money that has been allocated to the United Nations population fund the global fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, international partnership for microbicides, international AIDS vaccine initiative and the global alliance for vaccines and immunisations and UNIFEM in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29261/10]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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A substantive partnership with UN Funds and Programmes, and Global Health Initiatives including those tasked with developing new products for neglected diseases, is an important element of Ireland's development cooperation programme and of our contribution to the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals. Ireland engages actively with these organisations, participating in meetings and shaping and influencing policy decisions, and we are generous financial contributors to their work.

In 2010 Ireland has provided approximately €9 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, approximately €3 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), €1 million to the International Partnership for Microbicides, €525 000 to the GAVI Alliance (previously known as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) and €300,000 to UNIFEM. Future support to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative is under consideration.

These organisations contribute to advancing Millennium Development Goals 3, 4, 5 and 6 that are concerned with health, AIDS, gender equality and women's empowerment.

UNFPA supports sexual and reproductive health, including maternal health, while Ireland's support to UNIFEM assists action at various levels to address gender equality and to empower women. The Global Fund and GAVI Alliance continue to document the considerable impact they are having on the incidence of deaths associated with AIDS and other communicable diseases, especially amongst children in the poorest regions of the world. The International Partnership for Microbicides plays an important role in strengthening women's capacity to prevent HIV transmission.

I believe that engagement with these organisations, each of which has an important contribution to make to the achievement of the MDG goals, will remain an important part of Ireland's overseas development programme.

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