Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which international famine or starvation relief programmes are adequately focused to meet the on-going emergency situations worldwide, throughout all continents; the extent of any intentions or proposals to augment the efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33892/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the international structures currently in place to address the issues of warfare, famine, starvation, human rights abuses, ethnic cleansing and accommodation of refugees worldwide; if the current structures adequately address the issues; his views as to the way in which the situation will best be improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33904/12]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 55 together.

The international humanitarian system has undergone significant reform since the Asian tsunami of 2004. Important lessons have been learned in the intervening period from the shortcomings in the international response and major steps have been taken to improve the effectiveness, predictability and accountability of the system as a whole. Ireland has played an important role in this process in practical, financial and policy terms.

Together with a number of other like-minded donor countries, we have worked particularly closely with the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to put in place new systems to improve the way in which aid is delivered and to ensure that coordination on the ground is improved.

Central to these efforts has been the establishment of the Cluster System, which brings together different aid agencies working in sectors such as shelter, nutrition, water and sanitation. Another important development has been the establishment of the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which is a pool of funding held by the UN and which can be released within hours of a disaster. Ireland, which was one of the original advocates for the creation of this fund, has contributed US$110 million to it since 2006. We continue to support these and other innovative policy approaches at UN level.

Across the globe, some 10.5 million people continue to receive assistance from UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency – which was set up initially with a three-year mandate to help Europeans displaced by the Second World War. Over sixty years on, it remains the primary international body with responsibility for the protection and support of the world's refugee population, having offered help and assistance to tens of millions of refugees. Ireland is a strong supporter of UNHCR in both funding and policy terms and is a permanent member of UNHCR's Executive Committee, where we work closely with other donor countries to ensure that the rights of refugees are respected and that they receive the protection and assistance they require. This year, in addition to core funding, the Government has granted additional emergency support to UNHCR for its operations in humanitarian crises in Mali, Chad, Syria and the Western Sahara.

At EU level, there have also been improvements in coordination between Member States and the European Commission, which together constitute the largest donor of development assistance in the world. The European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid, adopted in December 2007, commits the EU to working to provide an emergency response based on need and to upholding the principles of good humanitarian practice: humanity, neutrality, independence and impartiality. Ireland will chair the Council Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Assistance during our EU Presidency in the first half of 2013.

At home, Irish Aid has also made a number of significant changes in how it responds to humanitarian emergencies. A large portion of our emergency funding is now pre-positioned with partner agencies for immediate release in a crisis. This reduces red tape and ensures aid can be disbursed in the critical hours and days following an emergency.

In addition, Irish Aid has developed network of humanitarian stockpiles around the globe and close to zones vulnerable to natural or other disasters. This means that emergency supplies can be airlifted at short notice directly to where they are needed. We have also established the Rapid Response Corps, a roster of skilled and experienced volunteers who make themselves available to deploy at short notice to work in humanitarian emergency situations.