O'Donnell: “Ireland to become a top 15 donor to key UN Development and Humanitarian Agencies

Speaking after a meeting in New York with Mr. Mark Malloch Brown, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Liz O'Donnell T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs said:

“Support for the United Nations is increasingly central to Ireland's foreign policy outreach. The UN has an indispensable role in promoting economic and social development and in maintaining international peace and security.

Ireland works closely with a small number of key UN development and humanitarian bodies which focus on the poorest of the poor. We support those UN bodies committed to reform and which have a real impact in the field.

The UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are three crucial UN bodies whose work affects the lives of millions. I have decided to sharply increase funding for these bodies.

In 2002, Ireland will contribute €8.89 million to the UNDP, €5.52 m to UNICEF and €5.9 m to UNHCR. These increases are, on average, 44% more than our 2001 funding level.

With these increases, we have entered into a new strategic partnership between Ireland and the UN. Ireland will now become a top 15 donor to key development and humanitarian organisations in the UN.

This year we are members of the Executive Board of UNICEF for the first time. We are a member of the Executive Committee of the UN High Commission for Refugees. We continue to participate actively in the Board meetings of the UNDP.

Through this strengthened development partnership with the UN we can have a greater say in the UN's efforts to reduce poverty, to deal with humanitarian crises and to help countries devastated by conflict.

In my meeting today with UNDP, I confirmed that Ireland will contribute €500,000 to the Interim Administration Fund operated by the UN as part of the €12m Ireland pledged to the restructuring of Afghanistan.

More than ever, we need properly funded and effective UN Bodies to build peace and development in the world and to actively work to reduce poverty.”

Note for Editors:

The UN Development Programme is the principal channel for development assistance provided by the UN. Its worldwide budget is $2.2 billion and most of its activities are in the world's poorest countries.

UNICEF deals with the long term needs of children and mothers in developing countries and acts as a global advocate for children's rights.

UNHCR provides international protection to refugees, seeks durable solutions to their plight and gives them material assistanceTop