Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

63. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the appropriateness of €2.776 million in public funds being given as direct funding to the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Health Access Initiative between 2008 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30275/16]

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

Through the Irish Aid programme, my Department works with a range of partners to deliver on our longstanding commitment to improve access to quality health and HIV services for poor and marginalised communities. Partners are selected on the basis of their contribution to the Department's priority outcomes, the quality of results achieved and their capacity to use funds effectively.

Since 2003, Irish Aid has worked in partnership with the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Health Access Initiative on the fight against HIV and AIDS. This work, which we implement in partnership with the Ministries of Health in Mozambique and Lesotho, has been successful in improving the prevention of HIV transmission, including mother-to-child transmission, and increasing the number of people receiving HIV treatment. In Mozambique for example, 550,000 people are now receiving HIV treatment, up from 3,000 people in 2003. In Lesotho, the partnership has led to improvement in maternal and child health, through equipping health centres, training and better use of routine vaccines.

We have provided a total of €2.776 million directly to the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Health Access Initiative in the period from 2008 to 2016. This funding has financed the provision of technical support to the Ministries of Health in Mozambique and Lesotho. Both the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Health Access Initiative are recognised for their technical expertise in drug procurement, the roll-out of health technologies and nutrition. In addition they are also highly respected for their ability to leverage additional funding and negotiate the lowest prices for drugs and other essential commodities, which would otherwise not be available to the Ministries of Health.