Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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55. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the projects that have developed or the differences that have occurred in Ireland's programme countries as a result of direct foreign aid by Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48246/13]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Through the Government’s development cooperation programme, Ireland is committed to providing long term strategic assistance to nine key partner countries. Working in partnership with other donors and with Governments in our partner countries, Ireland has made a significant contribution to development and the fight against poverty. In the past decade there have been important improvements in human development in each of our partner countries, as measured by the UN Human Development Index.

The media can be a powerful force for positive change and democratic transformation in our partner countries. It plays an important role in advancing a pro-poor development agenda, enhancing domestic accountability and tracking the effectiveness of international development cooperation.

Ireland provides support to media organisations in a number of our partner countries. In Tanzania, for example, support is provided to the Tanzania Media Fund (TMF) which provides grants to media professionals and institutions in order to improve journalism standards, including investigative journalism. From 2008 to 2012, TMF provided assistance to more than 400 media organisations and journalists and reported important quality improvements and accountability impacts from its interventions.

In Zambia, support is provided to the Media Institute of Southern Africa to support community radio stations, a source of over 80% of Zambians’ current affairs information and an important tool for enhancing domestic accountability. Through this work, media freedom is promoted and citizens, even those in the remotest parts of the country, have access to information.

The Government’s new policy for international development, One World, One Future, launched earlier this year, recognises the powerful role a diverse, pluralistic and professional media environment can have in providing access to information and debate, and in ensuring the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression as recognised in international human rights law. The policy highlights the important contribution media can make in holding Governments to account and includes a commitment to support initiatives that can strengthen their role in key partner countries.