Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent)
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115. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason Ireland abstained from the 2010 United Nations General Assembly vote to adopt a declaration on the right to water; if his attention has been drawn to the declaration that states the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights; if he will outline in detail the objections Ireland had to this declaration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45747/13]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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The 7th session of United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2008 adopted by consensus a Resolution (7/22) which recognised the existence of human rights obligations relating to access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Ireland actively supported this Resolution and was amongst those United Nations member states which co-sponsored it.

Ireland actively engaged in the negotiations at the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly in July 2010 which led to the adoption of a Resolution on the ‘human right to water and sanitation’ (Resolution 64/292). Ireland supported suggestions put forward by the EU that, in our view, would have both resulted in a more balanced text and allowed the General Assembly to reach consensus on this issue. Unfortunately, on this occasion, many of the EU suggestions were not taken into consideration.

The Bolivian-led resolution bypassed the United Nations Human Rights Council process in Geneva and risked introducing division where consensus should have been sought. Following careful consideration it was decided that Ireland could not support in its entirety the final Bolivian text presented to the General Assembly. On 28 July 2010 the Resolution was adopted following a recorded vote of 122 votes in favour, none against and 41 abstentions. Ireland, along with 17 of our European Union partners, abstained from voting on this Resolution.

Ireland continues to actively engage in discussions within the international community on access to safe drinking water and sanitation, including at the 21st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in September 2012, which adopted a resolution on ‘the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation’. Ireland co-sponsored this Resolution.

Ireland agrees in principle that all persons, wherever located, should have access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities and remains convinced that the only manner in which to achieve real progress on access to safe drinking water and sanitation is to maintain consensus within the international community.

Ireland remains fully committed to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by half, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and sanitation. In 2012, Ireland allocated over €5 million in support to water and sanitation activities to improve availability of services and to address the structural causes of exclusion from access to water and sanitation services.