Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 67: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason Ireland is not a signatory to the new multilateral initiative, the open government partnership scheme of which 54 countries have become partners including the latest member Trinidad and Tobago; if he plans to send a delegate to the first Open Government Partnership Conference in Brazil later this month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19093/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Open Government Partnership (OGP) is an ad hoc international initiative which was launched in 2011 and which is overseen by a multi-stakeholder International Steering Committee involving Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Committee also includes civil society representatives: the Africa Center for Open Governance (Kenya), the Instituto de Estudos Socioeconômicos (Brazil), the Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad (Mexico), the International Budget Project, MKSS (India), the National Security Archive (US), the Revenue Watch Institute and the Transparency and Accountability Initiative, Twaweza (Tanzania). I understand that Brazil will host a meeting of the OGP this year. The aim of the organization is to promote progress by participating states in relation to enhanced transparency and anti-corruption measures.

To my knowledge, the Government has not been in receipt of any approach by the OGP to join the organisation and the question of possible participation by Ireland has not yet been examined.

Ireland participates at EU level, and within the OSCE, OECD, Council of Europe, and the United Nations frameworks, in efforts to promote cooperation on, and improvement in, transparency and anti-corruption measures. We ratified the UN Convention Against Corruption in 2011 and are also a party to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. During the Nineteenth Session of the UN Human Rights Council in March 2012, Ireland co-sponsored a resolution on "The role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights", which was adopted by the Council. This encouraged States to ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption and emphasised the role of good governance in the full realisation of human rights, sustained economic growth, sustainable development and the eradication of poverty and hunger.

In advance of any decision relating to membership of OGP and a possible commitment of resources, it would be necessary to examine the potential added value of membership, in consultation with the other relevant Government Departments.