O'Donnell Urges Support for UN Role in Development
The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Liz O'Donnell T.D., has said that the UN's role in development is an integral part of its mandate under the UN Charter.
Speaking in New York this (Thursday) afternoon at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Minister said that, as an international organisation, the UN enjoys a level of confidence and trust which could never be matched by individual states, particularly small ones. "In many instances the UN may be the only effective or available means of bringing assistance to bear on a particular situation, given the scale of its operations and the range of expertise and experience of its agencies in developing countries".
The Minister stressed Ireland's continuing support, both financial and political, for policies focussing on poverty reduction and for the avoidance of duplication of efforts between the various funds and programmes. Noting the considerable progress to date in streamlining UN development and relief activities, she said that Ireland would continue to monitor and encourage this process.
Following her address to ECOSOC, the Minister met Dr Nafis Sadik, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Mr Mark Malloch Brown, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Ms Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Note for Editors
Earlier this year, the Minister of State approved the allocation of significantly increased resources to each of these three agencies. This year, UNDP has received a voluntary contribution of IR£3.4m from Ireland Aid, an increase of 35% on 1999. UNFPA's allocation has risen by 50% to IR£600,000. A voluntary contribution of IR£2m will shortly be made to UNICEF, representing an increase of over 35% on the 1999 allocation
