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

204. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which Ireland’s aid programme continues to address the most seriously challenging situations in locations throughout Africa most affected by starvation, war, genocide and the abuse of human rights; if the top ten such locations continue to receive attention to the extent required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8662/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The ten lowest ranked countries in Africa in the UN’s Human Development Index are Niger, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Chad, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Guinea and Mozambique. Two of these, Mozambique and Sierra Leone, are key partner countries for Ireland’s aid programme.The Government’s approach to Africa is informed by the Africa Strategy of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and One World, One Future, our policy for international development.Ireland pursues a strategic and comprehensive approach to countries in Africa which are facing challenging humanitarian, conflict, or human rights situations. This approach encompasses political and diplomatic engagement, development cooperation programming, which prioritises the fight against hunger and under-nutrition, humanitarian assistance, and support for peacekeeping operations. In an effort to support the continent to confront these far-reaching challenges, we allocate approximately 80% of Ireland’s development assistance to sub-Saharan Africa.

Ireland is committed to supporting the recovery efforts and successful transition of countries emerging from conflict or significant and protracted humanitarian crises. The announcement last year that Sierra Leone would become one of Irish Aid’s key partner countries is testament to this commitment.

I participate regularly in the deliberations of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Africa, including, most recently, on developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Mali and the Central African Republic. Next month, the Council is scheduled to have a discussion of the EU’s strategic relationship with Africa.

Ireland has deployed, and will continue to deploy, personnel to civilian and military EU and UN missions in Africa. Through Irish Aid’s Rapid Response Corps, we have also deployed highly skilled personnel to crisis-hit areas of sub-Saharan Africa on nineteen occasions in 2014. At present, there are 8 members on mission in sub-Saharan Africa.

Human rights concerns remain central to our foreign policy. Mindful that the risk of human rights violations is greater where political, economic and administrative systems are weak, One World, One Futuresupports concrete actions designed to promote human rights, including strengthening government systems and in-country human rights institutions.