Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which it has been found possible, unilaterally or in conjunction with his EU and UN colleagues, to focus on issues of war, famine and human rights in the most sensitive areas of Africa; if particular or specific strategies are being pursued in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15932/13]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Since its inception in 1974, Ireland’s programme of official development assistance has had a particular focus on the continent of Africa. Both historically, and in many cases up to and including the present day, African countries have been faced enormous difficulties, including food insecurity, poverty, protracted conflict, environmental degradation, weak government capacity, unequal global trading relationships, severe infrastructural weaknesses, poor governance, debt and the effects of HIV/AIDS. In an effort to help the countries of the continent confront these far-reaching challenges, we channel some 80% of Ireland’s development assistance to Africa.

As the Deputy notes, some countries in Africa continue to face particularly acute challenges in terms of conflict and food insecurity. Through Ireland’s emergency humanitarian budget we respond quickly and effectively to needs arising from such emergencies as well as to the effects of natural disasters across the continent.

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 almost US$130 million to it since 2006. We continue to support these and other innovative policy approaches at UN level.

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. Under our EU Presidency, Ireland is currently chairing the Council Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Assistance and continues to work to enhance coordination and ensure a timely and effective response to crises.

At home, we have also made a number of significant changes in how we respond to humanitarian emergencies. A 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, we have developed a 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.