16/08/2010 at 4:43 pm

Together we stand,
If we stand firm and tall,
Together we won’t fall.

We can and we will reach our goal x

23/08/2010 at 10:37 pm

A chara,

You were in touch with me to ensure that Ireland maintains its commitment to spend at least 0.7% of national income on overseas development aid by 2015. I have been in touch with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Irish Aid on this issue. The response I received from Minister Power indicated that the Government remains committed to the target of 0.7% by 2015. I would be happy to forward a copy of this letter to you by post. Please get in touch if you would like me to do so.

In the meantime you can be assured that the Labour Party will continue to support the target of 2015 and to ensure that money spent in the ODA budget is used to the best effect.

Best wishes,

Mary

Mary Upton TD
Labour Party Spokesperson on Tourism, Culture and Sport
Deputy, Dublin South Central

http://www.maryupton.ie

Mary Upton TD
Labour Party Spokesperson on Tourism, Culture and Sport
Deputy, Dublin South Central
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Brian,
Many thanks for your email of the 4 August in relation to the millenium development goals. As you know I have been a strong supporter of Ireland fulfilling its commitement with respect to 0.7% of income being spent on overseas aid by 2015.

I enclose a recently tabled parliamentary question in relation to this issue.

If I can be of further assistance please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Aengus

Question No. 35

Parliamentary Question – Dept Details

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will develop and deliver a millennium development goals action plan in the run up to 2015 as recommended by Dóchas members.
– Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (nominated by Aengus Ó Snodaigh).

For ORAL answer on Thursday, 20th May, 2010.

REPLY
(Minister of State, Mr. Peter Power, T.D.)

I propose to take Questions 35, 55 and 65 together.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted by Heads of Government at the Millennium Summit in 2000 provide the framework for international development up to 2015. They set specific, measurable development targets and represent the commitment of the international community to work for the eradication of global poverty in all its forms.

Progress on the MDGs will be reviewed at a UN Summit in New York in September. I believe it is essential that the Summit agrees a clear action plan, based on the evidence of the past ten years, to underpin work towards the achievement of the Goals. The Government has been working at the UN and with our EU partners to ensure that, working together, developed and developing countries can maintain their commitments to the world’s poorest people in the face of increased global challenges and continuing international economic difficulty.

Ireland has taken a lead internationally to focus attention at the Summit on the global hunger crisis. I have made the point strongly at meetings in Europe, Africa and the United States that slow progress on the first of the MDGs, the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, is not only a scandal in itself, it is impeding progress across the whole range of development goals. We are also arguing that priority be given to those regions and groups that are lagging behind, in particular those most vulnerable to extreme poverty and hunger in sub-Saharan Africa, which is the primary geographic focus of the Government’s aid programme.

Over the coming weeks, Ireland will play an important role in the preparation of a strong EU position for the Summit, which will be considered at a special meeting of Development Ministers, which I will attend, in preparation for the June European Council. Nationally, we are also preparing with the US Administration for the organisation of an Irish – US event during the New York Summit to promote a comprehensive international approach to the global hunger crisis. This will highlight the need to link agriculture, food security and nutrition programming in order to provide a realistic and sustainable solution to world hunger. I have just returned from a series of meetings in Washington and New York in preparation for this event and for our participation in the UN Summit.

We are working closely with representatives of all parties as we prepare for the Summit, and I would recognise in particular the important role being played by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. It will strengthen our position internationally if we can demonstrate that Ireland’s response to the Millennium Development Goals is a national one, reflecting views across the political and the non-governmental spectrum. At a recent roundtable meeting sponsored by Trócaire, I invited Irish Aid’s NGO partners to document their contribution to the achievement of the MDGs, so that we can report on the full extent of Ireland’s contribution over the past ten years and assess how we can work together to accelerate progress over the coming five. We have also proposed to Dóchas, the umbrella organisation for the Irish development NGOs, that we work together to prepare positions reflecting our common concerns for the Summit in September.
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Dear Brian,

Thank you for your e-mail. I have received a number of representations on the matter. I have been in touch with An Taoiseach and Michaél Martin T.D. and when I hear further, I will contact you again.

Kind regards

“Brian Mahon”

04/08/2010 02:04

To
“Mr. Seán Ardagh”
cc

Subject
Mr. Seán Ardagh: Act Now on 2015

Dear Deputy Ardagh,

I am writing to ask you to ensure that Ireland keeps its promise to the world: to spend at least 0.7% of national income annually on overseas aid by 2015 at the latest – or just 70 cents in every €100.

While Ireland is facing significant challenges as a result of the global economic crisis, many developing countries face much bigger economic, financial, hunger and debt crises. They need significant investment to stimulate growth and tackle poverty.

They urgently need Ireland, as a traditional friend to the world’s poor, to keep its promise and deliver on its international commitment on overseas aid.

At the Millennium Summit in 2000, the heads of state of 189 countries agreed on eight Millennium Development Goals designed to halve extreme poverty by 2015.

This concerted drive against poverty is making a difference and a new report from the UN Millennium Campaign shows that African countries top the list of the 20 countries making most progress.

But this huge global effort needs financial support and, with just 5 years to go to the MDG deadline, Ireland needs to stick to its commitments.

Please use your influence to deliver on our aid promise and protect Ireland’s international goodwill, vital in a competitive globalised world, as a small but important actor that looks to achieve the common good rather than narrow, short-term national interests.

You can help – right here and now – by writing to An Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs to:

* Call for a clear, step by step, action plan to show that Ireland will deliver at least 0.7% of national income in overseas aid by 2015, as it has promised.

Thank you,

Brian Mahon

These are responses from my country’s politicians regarding the M.D.G.s.I couldn’t find a e-mail address to forward them onto.

03/09/2010 at 4:33 pm

The popular saying that knowledge is power cannot be more apt than in this context. Ij ust read this piece and our organisation cannot but join 2 make this event popular and realisable. We @ COMMUNITY CENTRE FOR JUSTICE AND HEALTH INITIATIVE, an organisation committed 2 shouting our vioce coarse to make Government ”fall in line”, follow due process hold approriate people accountable, all as a ”sine qua anon ”to economic independence will join2 celebrate , come d appointed day.We shall also send our pix and shots to U as neccessary.YOU ARE DOING SO MUCH TO SO MANY, keep it up

BARR. CHINWEUBA ONAH
Executive Director (cc4jhi) Nigeria