Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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159. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland's overseas aid programme will support agricultural research in developing countries, with a view to assisting farmers to grow more nutritious and sustainable food; the way in which access to markets can be improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31512/13]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Ireland is a long-standing supporter of pro-poor agricultural research in developing countries through our overseas development programme, Irish Aid. I am gratified that the international donor community has now become more aware of the importance of agriculture and agricultural research in enhancing rural livelihoods and reducing poverty. Given the huge contribution that agricultural research makes in reducing poverty and hunger, we have committed to continuing this strong support in our new Policy for International Development, 'One World, One Future', which I launched in May.

Irish Aid supports agricultural research in developing countries in a number of ways. We provide funding for the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research - CGIAR, including support to research programmes on Agriculture and Nutrition, and on Agriculture and Climate Change. I have seen the difference this kind of operational research is making. In Malawi, Mozambique and Ethiopia, the introduction of the nutritious orange fleshed sweet potato is improving the diversity and nutritional value of crops produced by small holder farmers in a sustainable manner. Through our Programme of Strategic Co-operation, Irish Aid will continue to work with a variety of Irish research institutions such as Teagasc and our Universities, and with our civil society partners, to support innovative research which can support pro-poor development.

We will also continue to support the sharing of agricultural research with farmers, through national agricultural research and extension services, and through organisations that work directly with smallholder farmers to support their uptake of new agricultural inputs and technologies. Some examples include organisations that share research on plant diseases through village-level plant 'clinics', and on new farming practices through local radio programmes.

Supporting smallholder farmers to access markets is an important priority for Irish Aid. We support a number of important market-access programmes in our key partner countries, such as smallholder farmer-led enterprises in pigeon-pea and potatoes in Malawi, enhancing market opportunities for smallholder farmers in the cashew and pineapple sector in Mozambique, and supporting smallholder farmers to improve cocoa quality and market access in Tanzania. We also support smallholder farmer associations and groups in Malawi, Tanzania and Ethiopia, recognising that this is an important element of building farmers' capacity to improve their productivity and access to markets.

Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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160. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland's overseas aid programme is assisting developing countries to deal with and increase resilience to environmental hazards and climate change challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31516/13]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Environment and climate change challenges are at the heart of Ireland's contribution, through our aid programme, to the fight to end extreme poverty and hunger in the world. Through Ireland's development assistance programme, managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, we place a strong emphasis on building community resilience, reducing disaster risk and addressing climate change challenges in programmes in our key partner countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. At international level, we provide funding and support to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction as part of our commitment to the Hyogo Framework for Action, which provides the global blueprint for disaster risk reduction efforts. We also provide strategic support for the work of a number of leading global environment and development agencies, such as the World Resources Institute and the International Institute for Environment and Development.

In 2009, the international leaders made a global commitment to provide US$30 billion for climate actions in developing countries between 2010 and 2012. I am pleased to confirm that Ireland has fully met its commitment to provide €100 million in assistance under this global three-year commitment.

Addressing the links between hunger, malnutrition and climate change was a central development priority for Ireland's EU Presidency in the first half of 2013. Working in cooperation with Mary Robinson, the Government hosted a high level international conference in Dublin in April to focus on these interlinked challenges. This seminal event allowed us to hear the experience of local people from developing countries where climate change is having a direct impact on the poorest communities. One of the key messages from this conference is that we must take a truly integrated approach if we are to achieve sustainable development in a changing climate.

During Ireland's EU Presidency, we also helped to strengthen EU action on building the resilience of vulnerable communities in developing countries.

Looking ahead, it is important that the issues of climate change and development have been set as a key priority area for action in the Government's new Policy for International Development, 'One World, One Future' which I launched in May. This policy commitment will assist us in our efforts to ensure that the world's poorest communities can develop in a way that is resource-efficient, climate resilient and therefore sustainable.