Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 191: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he continues to engage with non-governmental organizations with a view to ensuring that aid is strategically directed to ensure maximum benefit to those for whom it was intended in the most sensitive areas on the continent of Africa with particular reference to the need to address the issues of famine human rights abuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25662/12]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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The Government's aid programme, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is sharply focused on the fight against global poverty and hunger. It is recognised internationally for its effectiveness, and for its concentration on some of the poorest countries and communities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Irish Aid channels a higher proportion of overall assistance through development Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) than other international donors, reflecting the strong support of the Irish people for the work of NGOs and missionaries. This assistance is provided to support the long term development and humanitarian work of NGOs, in accordance with the objectives of the Government's aid programme.

This partnership between Irish Aid and NGOs is strategically directed to ensure that aid reaches those for whom it is intended with a particular focus on the poorest and most vulnerable communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Irish Aid has established strict eligibility criteria to determine which NGOs are eligible to apply for significant grant funding. The main eligibility criteria include a proven organisational capacity for the effective use of funding and a solid track record of delivery. All proposals for funding from NGOs are rigorously appraised by Irish Aid staff using clear criteria, including quality of intended impact, sustainability, cost effectiveness and efficiency in the use of resources. This appraisal process ensures that Irish Aid funding is directed towards those partners with the capacity to deliver in the fight against global hunger and poverty.

NGO programmes in receipt of funding are subject to regular internal and external monitoring to ensure the intended objectives and goals are being accomplished. All programmes are evaluated and audited by independent experts as well as by the Evaluation and Audit Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Unit's work is regularly reviewed by the independent Audit Committee of the Department.

The most recent international report on development assistance, the 2010 Survey of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, ranked Ireland highest among EU Member States for the delivery of our commitments on aid quality. Our NGO partners play a crucial role as we strive to achieve the maximum benefit from Ireland's development co-operation programme and its contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

I believe our continued focus on appraisal, regular monitoring, independent evaluations and audit provides assurance that those funds channelled though NGOs are very closely monitored and used for the purposes intended.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 192: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number and location of countries on the continent of Africa now facing serious difficulty arising from starvation, war and/or human rights abuse; the extent to which he can influence the international community with a view to maximising the impact of aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25663/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he or his Department directly, or through the aegis of the EU or UN, have managed to monitor or influence the situation in the horn of Africa with particular reference to addressing the issues of starvation, conflict and human rights abuses; the efforts made to date to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25664/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together.

The Government, along with our EU partners, attach high importance to the development of relations with the countries of Africa, to supporting economic and social development and to responding to the effects of conflict and natural disasters on that continent. Our national approach is guided by the Africa Strategy of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which I launched in September 2011. It sets out a framework for our policies in the political, development and economic areas in order to ensure that our engagement is as coherent and effective as possible. A fundamental principle of our approach is an emphasis on the promotion of political progress including the resolution of conflict, the strengthening of democracy, and respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Ireland, together with our EU partners, will continue to work with African Governments, African regional organisations, communities in the priority countries for our aid programme, the UN, and humanitarian organisations to address the causes of conflict, instability and famine and food insecurity in Africa. We are also active in responding to the consequences of these problems, including the displacement of civilians and the humanitarian needs of affected people.

The EU has adopted comprehensive strategies to address the complex problems in the Horn of Africa and Sahel regions. In the case of the Horn of Africa region, the challenges faced in the region are immense, given the context of international and ethnic conflict, the issues of terrorism and piracy, the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, and the plight of an estimated 13 million people in need of emergency assistance. We are particularly focused on the ongoing crisis in southern Somalia, where famine was declared last year in six areas of the country and where access for humanitarian aid agencies remains a major challenge, most especially in areas controlled by the Islamist group, Al-Shabaab.

The EU's Strategic Framework on the Horn of Africa, which was adopted in November 2011, recognises the importance of a stable peace and respect for human rights, and the longer term need for economic and social development across the region. The EU and its Member States recognise that instability in the region poses a growing challenge not only to the security of its peoples but also to the rest of the world.

The EU is continuing to play a major role in support of the strengthening of the African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia, increased regional and international efforts on the political transition process, and the combating of piracy and terrorism. The EU has appointed a Special Representative who, in close consultation with the EU Special Representative for Sudan and South Sudan, will help ensure coherence, impact and visibility for the Union's regional approach to the interrelated challenges facing the people of the Horn of Africa. Ireland recognises that a military and security approach can only have limited success in addressing the crisis in Somalia and the wider region, and we are strongly supportive of a comprehensive regional approach by the EU and the wider international community.

Ireland is also continuing to make a direct and practical contribution to the response to the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa. We have recently announced a further €2 million in funding for humanitarian agencies responding to the situation in Somalia, through the UN Common Humanitarian Fund. Ireland is also contributing personnel to the EU Training Mission working with the Transitional Federal Government for Somalia, including the Mission's Commander, who is an Irish Army Officer.

The humanitarian situation across the Sahel region of West Africa is now extremely severe, with fifteen million people struggling to obtain enough food to eat. Ireland has moved quickly to mobilise emergency funding for agencies operating in the region. An allocation of €5 million has been made available to a range of experienced partners for programmes on the ground for the provision of emergency food assistance and nutritional healthcare. Irish Aid's Rapid Response Corps has also been mobilised, with a number of its expert personnel already working on the ground with UN agencies. Irish Aid's key Irish humanitarian NGO partners have been invited to submit proposals for additional funding. On this basis, a further announcement of support may be made in the coming days.

The EU and its Member States are also playing a significant role in addressing fragility, post-conflict rehabilitation, support for electoral processes, peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, capacity-strengthening in the areas of justice and human rights, humanitarian response, and economic and social development, including through support for civil society, in a wide range of African countries.

Africa is the geographic focus for Ireland's development aid programme, with up to 80% of the aid budget devoted to the objective of ending extreme poverty and hunger, especially in the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa. We also regularly support and contribute personnel for EU Election Observer Missions, including recent missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Senegal.

Ireland also strongly supports international human rights institutions focusing on Africa, including the International Criminal Court, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Council.