MOS Costello Review of White Paper on Irish aid

The Minister for Trade and Development, Mr. Joe Costello T.D., today urged the public to contribute to a Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid and help shape the future of Ireland’s overseas aid programme.

Speaking at a public consultation meeting on the review of the White Paper on Irish Aid in Dublin today, Minister Costello said:

"Now is the right time to take stock of the aid programme’s many achievements but also of the challenges we face. We need to examine the changing context in which we are working and chart our future priorities.  I hope to have as much input from the public as possible so that we have a rich source of ideas and experiences to draw upon.

The 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid set out over 100 key decisions, the majority of which have been delivered on. Today, Ireland is recognised internationally as a champion in making aid effective; we have taken a leadership role in the fight against global hunger and we have improved ways of preventing and responding to humanitarian emergencies. Irish Aid has developed strong oversight and accountability systems.

Ireland has rightly been recognised as a world leader in delivering strong results for the money we spend on development but we will always strive to focus and prioritise our aid programme further; to build on our strengths and respond to new opportunities.  Over the course of the review, we will examine how we can best tackle climate change and alleviate poverty in fragile states, in addition to focusing on good governance and human rights, including gender equality.

I also want us to consider how we can move beyond aid and ensure that poorer countries are driving their own development.  I would urge the public to engage with us on these crucial issues. Irish Aid is the Irish people’s aid programme, so it is important that it reflects the views and ideas of the public in whose name it is delivered.”

The final public consultation will take place in Sligo on April 16. Members of the public can contribute to the review process by writing or by email; by organising a discussion on any matter of interest and sending responses in writing; or by following the review on Facebook, Twitter and online (full details of the options for responding are available at http://www.irishaid.gov.ie/whitepaper/ ).

Later this year a Review Report will be published to set out the future priorities for Irish Aid.

Press Office

26 March 2012