Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 388: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views regarding a submission (details supplied); the actions he will take to address the concerns raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38667/10]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 390: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views regarding the increased involvement of China in providing aid to Africa; if this policy is in conflict with aid as supplied by Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38715/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 and 390 together.

The submission referred to by Deputy Wall concerns two newspaper articles regarding, respectively, the role of China in Africa and the UN report on what happened in the DRC between 1993 and 2003, in particular the role of other countries, including Rwanda.

I am aware of the contrast often made between what has been perceived as the commercial focus of China's policy in Africa and the primary focus of Ireland and the EU on issues such as poverty reduction, human rights and good governance. However, I believe that this contrast can be overstated. There are signs that China is increasingly aware of the importance of peace and stability in Africa and, as such, these are areas of shared interest with Ireland and the EU. China also has a large contribution to make in Africa by the sharing of experience on the reduction of poverty, including in some key areas for Africa such as raising agricultural productivity.

At the EU-China Summit held in Nanjing last November both sides welcomed trilateral dialogue between the EU, China and Africa, and agreed to explore appropriate areas for cooperation. They reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the full and timely achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and to supporting Africa's sustainable development and early economic recovery from the global financial crisis. At the most recent summit, held in Brussels earlier this month, both sides reaffirmed their active commitment to peace and sustainable development of the world.

I am also of the view that the commitment of African countries to human rights, gender equality, good governance and the fight against corruption is not only the product of pressure related to assistance from donors. African countries are participants in a wide range of international instruments which guarantee such freedoms and are, as is Ireland, accountable under the terms of these international agreements.

On 1 October the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights published a report which documented the most serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed within the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between March 1993 and June 2003. I fully support the statement by High Representative Ashton in which she welcomed the report as an additional contribution in the global fight against impunity for human rights violations, and expressed the EU's determination to support the prevention of crimes violating human rights and humanitarian law, and the need to hold accountable the perpetrators of such crimes.

As regards the provision of Overseas Development Aid to Africa, Ireland's assistance has a strong focus on poverty reduction and hunger. We work closely with our partner governments in Africa, and other donors, to ensure that international aid has the most effective impact in reducing poverty, alleviating hunger and in the providing basic services such as health and education. We welcome the provision of development aid to Africa by new donors, such as China, who share our commitment to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Ireland will continue to work with our partners in Africa, and other international donors to ensure that Overseas Development Assistance is directed to those areas most in need and is used in the most effective way in the fight against hunger and poverty. For our part, we are determined to deliver on our commitment that Ireland's Aid Programme will benefit the poorest and most vulnerable in Africa.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the implications an UN report (details supplied) will have on the allocation of Irish aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38714/10]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The OHCHR (the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) Report of the Mapping Exercise documenting the most serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the period of 1993 to 2003 is an important contribution to the global efforts to address impunity for human rights violations. The Report identifies countries "that could be held responsible for serious violations of human rights committed by their national armies during the period in question", including Rwanda.

In HR Ashton's statement on behalf of the EU after the publication of the Report, which Ireland fully supports, she reiterated the determination of the EU to support the prevention of crimes violating human rights and humanitarian law, and strongly supports the need to hold accountable the perpetrators of such crimes.

Rwanda has made considerable progress in seeking to overcome the human and economic legacy of the terrible genocide visited upon the country in 1994. While Irish Aid does not provide budget support to the Government of Rwanda, assistance is provided directly to the Rwandan people through a number of NGO, civil society and missionary partners which carry out enormously important work in helping to rebuild Rwanda in the aftermath of the genocide there. In 2010, Irish Aid expects to provide approximately €2 million to the Rwandan people through our partners.

Our main NGO partners include Concern, Trocaire and Christian Aid as well as Misean Cara, which supports missionaries working on the ground in Rwanda. This funding is used to support Basic Education, Primary Health Care, Water Sanitation and Community Rural Development in Rwanda.