Africa remains the focus of Government's aid programme

Minister of State for Development Cooperation and Human Rights at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Conor Lenihan TD at the launch of the UN Millennium Project Report, this evening stressed that Ireland's focus in the global fight against poverty is in Africa. Speaking at the event Minister Lenihan said: 

“It is critical at this time, when the focus of all our efforts is quite rightly on South Asia, that we do not forget other parts of the world which are in great need, most specifically Africa. The Government's primary focus has always been and will continue to be Africa. Three quarters of all Government spending on aid is directed to the world's poorest countries in sub Saharan Africa, this year will be no different.”

The Government has made it clear that of the €20 million pledged for the tsunami disaster €10 million is additional to the overall aid budget and the remainder will come from my Department's Emergency Humanitarian Fund, which is deliberately designed to be flexible to respond to disasters where ever they occur.” 

Speaking on the publication of the Millennium Project report:

“The Project's research shows not only that MDG targets set in 2000 can still be achieved by 2015, but also how it can be done, in rigorous technical detail. While the bottom line is that significantly more needs to be done by both developing and developed countries to achieve the MDG targets, we do now at least have a clearer roadmap. This report has been a critical step in what will be a critical year for development.

The difficult choices for developed countries in 2005 and beyond will be in the area of trade and the barriers that these countries, including Ireland, build that prevent market access for developing nations.”

ENDS+++

18th January 2004