Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will comment on Ireland's commitment towards those with disabilities with regard to the millennium development goals [36105/10]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland played an important role in the negotiation of the Outcome Document for the MDG Review Summit which I attended at the United Nations in New York last month. I am very pleased that the Outcome Document, which was adopted unanimously by the UN General Assembly, recognises that development policies and actions must focus on those living in the most vulnerable situations, including persons with disabilities. It recognises that people living with disabilities must benefit from progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. It also highlights the need to provide more equitable access to economic opportunities and social services for persons with disabilities, including access to employment.

The Government's approach to dealing with the issue of disability in the context of international development is guided by the 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid. The White Paper recognises the inter-relationship between poverty and disability. Disabled people are vulnerable to poverty and its effects. At the same time, poor people are at risk of becoming disabled as a result of unsafe living environments, undernutrition, lack of access to immunisation, exposure to communicable diseases, and unsafe birthing services which endanger both mothers and babies. Our development cooperation programme, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs, embraces the World Health Organisation's concept of disability as a complex phenomenon, which requires action across a diverse range of activities. The aim is to ensure that disability is effectively prevented and that disabled people are not excluded or exploited.

Since 2007, Ireland has provided over €100 million annually for assistance in the areas of health, HIV and AIDS and communicable diseases. We have focused this assistance on the world's poorest countries and communities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. We are making a very substantial contribution to the prevention of disability and to access to care through the provision of essential first-line services, vaccines and commodities.

Ireland's support to basic education in developing countries also emphasises increased access for disabled and marginalised people. We are also working in our Programme Countries to promote greater participation in politics and society by marginalised and excluded groups, including disabled people and those caring for the disabled.

Ireland also provides significant direct support to development Non-Governmental Organisations working with disabled people and their carers. These include Concern, Goal, Trócaire, Christian Aid and Self Help Africa, all of which undertake significant health and human rights work that benefits disabled people.

In addition, Irish Aid has established an important partnership with the International Labour Organisation which focuses on assisting people with disability and promoting legislation in relation to disability in Africa.