I am glad to get an opportunity to make my contribution regarding this report. It is very important and very comprehensive. I would like to pay tribute to the committee comprised of nine TDs and seven Senators. In particular I would like to pay tribute to the Chairperson, Deputy Nora Owen.
The fact that this is the second report of the committee indicates the high priority in which bilateral aid is regarded. I listened with great interest to the contributions from Senator Dooge and Senator Bulbulia. I was particularly moved by Senator Dooge's contribution because he is involved in this area personally. He told us that he was concerned in his provessional capacity with the key problem of water and the Third World. He is taking a special interest in this whole area.
It seems to me in this regard that the report, being so important and so interesting, in order to get the maximum benefit a good case could be made to have it printed, to include some pictures which would influence readers and to include some diagrams of Professor Dooge's schemes to show the work he is doing, and to show the benefit which results from that work. That would give emphasis to the help that is given in this area. Perhaps that report could be distributed, on a countrywide basis, in schools, to influence the children who, in later life when they gain experience, might be able to make some contribution by going as volunteers to those countries. A good case could be made for that. The cost would be very small.
Senator Dooge raised many interesting points. He stated, for example, that there are on this planet 1,000 million people who do not have access to safe water. That is an extraordinary number and very difficult to envisage. He said we are in the middle of a United Nations decade of water and sanitation and despite all the efforts, at the end of that decade the problem will remain as huge. He stated that it may be dented. In some sense we could throw up our hands and cry failure. I would like to pay tribute to all the people who are working so hard. When we look at the amount of money that is spent on Star Wars, on experimentation, sending human beings to the moon — I suppose in their own way those schemes are very important — when we consider how some of that money would affect the lives of so many millions in those countries man's inhumanity to man is underlined.
Senator Dooge told us about the waterborne disease and that in every year there are 500 million cases of this disease, 250 million cases of elephantiasis and 200 mil lion cases of schistosomiosis. We read in periodicals like Trocaire the extent of the horror, that as many as 494 million people in the developing countries are suffering from crippling malnutrition. This year more people will die of hunger than ever before and most of them will not be victims of famine. In an average day 40,000 children die of malnutrition and related diseases. In an average year at least 29 million people starve to death or die because of their health has been undermined by hunger. The toll is rising all the time.
I see a certain amount of despair that this problem is getting out of hand instead of being controlled and that the countries which could provide sufficient funds to dent that problem, as Senator Dooge said, do not seem to be inclined to do that. Those under-developed countries have been exploited over the centuries. The strong countries should make some amends for that exploitation but still there is a reluctance to to that. In face of that and of a refusal to make a commitment to cope with that problem even though the part Ireland plays is very small in relation to what those countries could play, it underlines the importance of the smaller countries doing what they can to cope with the problem. In my short contribution I will take a few instances and deal with them. In a report of 59 pages where nothing is superfluous and where everything is so tightly composed it would be impossible to eliminate anything and quite clearly it would be impossible to deal with every aspect of the report.
The bilateral aid programme we are told in the report is Ireland's centre-piece of development, co-operation and effort. For that reason and for its success in the areas where it has been involved it gives us a sense of pride that we have, in a small way and in a way that can be measured, succeeded in playing our part, maybe not to the full extent we should but, as Senator Dooge has rightly pointed out, with regard to our income and position, we can hold our heads high in relation to the funds that we provide vis-a-vis the more wealthy countries.
The committee have concentrated their examination on the bilateral aid programme in the four priority countries, Lesotho, Tanzania, Zambia and the Sudan, and the non-priority countries which are funded directly by the Government. More emphasis in the report is placed on the conduct of programmes in the former two countries, Lesotho and Tanzania, because members of the committee visited both countries and viewed projects at first hand in early 1985. The question which comes to mind in this regard is why were those two countries picked out as priority targets. I know that there is criticism when public representatives attend conferences and projects of this kind in other countries, but it would seem that here is a very worthy area where it would have been well worth while to provide finances so that members of the committee could have visited all countries. There should be some sound reason for making a choice with regard to visitations. It does not seem that this was spelt out in the report.
In dealing with this problem the report says that the committee has addressed itself only to the questions of education, training, research for agricultural development and development in general. Education and training are the most important aspects particularly for natives of those countries and for those who have got sufficient training to be able to carry on with the schemes that have been initiated by the volunteers and the experts who are provided by this country.
The committee's discussion of the bilateral aid programme and its recommendations, the report says, should be seen in the light of its unanimous opinion that the bilateral aid programme and its activities should have a clear poverty orientation, that each programme should tackle the basic needs of the most poverty stricken people of a particular area in a manner directly beneficial to them.
The committee goes on to tell us:
In the light of this principle it is the committee's view that, apart from the most exceptional circumstances, aid should be given without regard to the political complexion of the receiving countries.
This is expanded in a few places further on in the report. It is a point of view with which we would all agree. Nevertheless, it seems that the political situation in a country is of paramount importance. I realise that this is an area in which it might be better not to get involved in any great depth. I can see the spirit of what is behind this recommendation. Nevertheless, the political set-up is important with regard to the implementation and carrying on of these programmes which have started. I agree that the particular ideology of a Government should not be taken into consideration but the political sense which I take to mean the science of government in general, is important. While it would be wrong to try to influence political thought I feel some effort should be made to implement long term policies and the work done in the bilateral aid programme should be the foundation of a longer term programme.
The report says that in considering the bilateral aid programme the committee drew attention to the overall context, both political and economic, within which the programme is pursued. The committee view the programme as an expression of Ireland's commitment to longer term development in the developing countries. It goes on to say:
It is the opinion of the committee that direct bilateral aid, no matter how well co-ordinated at an international level, will not of itself resolve the problem of underdevelopment.
In a sense it puts a question mark after the bilateral aid programme. It is obviously a short term solution and nobody expects that it would resolve the problem of underdevelopment. The fact that it is spelled out here in that way lessens the impact of the bilateral scheme. The report says:
The Committee feels that in the context of the efforts of the developing countries to establish a new international economic order great care needs to be exercised by Ireland not to allow its natural affinity with and sympathy for the newly independent nations to be subjugated to the interests of some of our more economically powerful EC partners.
I see a difficulty in this area. There will always be a difficulty of choice. It will be impossible to please everybody but the effort of the Government at all times I hope will be to steer a middle course. If there is to be any deviation from that line it should be in the interest of the developing countries.
The committee drew particular attention to the problem of the debt burden on developing countries. The committee feel it is possible that very soon the cost of servicing their debts will outweigh the net inflow of aid to them. This means that the developing countries could become net contributors to the economies of the developed world. This would be an intolerable situation. Senator Bulbulia in her lengthy contribution referred also to this.
The committee believe that development programmes, worthy of themselves, will inevitably be defeated in their purpose unless the fundamental problem of debt is tackled. They suggest the possibility of satisfactorily rescheduling or temporarily suspending the servicing of Third World debt and consider that this country should be vigorously involved in pursuing, in international fora, this course. I wonder if any effort has been made in that regard? Will the Government take a definite line? I am sure it is an area that would be of great benefit to the developing countries. I wonder what hope there is of getting that done? When the Minister is replying perhaps he would refer to that matter. It is an area of great importance. It is extraordinary to envisage a situation where those countries would become net contributors to the economies of the developed world.
Chapter 1 deals with the general policy and the principles and states:
A comprehensive policy document outlining the principles on which the Irish development policy is based, its aims and general characteristics has never been issued and it is clear that the lack of such a policy document is keenly felt among many of the organisations dedicated to the process of development cooperation.
The committee are satisfied that a White Paper will be published shortly and that it will redress this situation. Senator Bulbulia has also referred to the White Paper which I hope will be published in the near future. Clearly, people involved in this area consider it important that a White Paper should be published. While the committee have undertaken to be a forum with regard to the implementation and suggestions the work they can do is limited. We all look forward to the White Paper.
The policy in relation to development aid changed over the seventies when Ireland crossed from being a developing country to what was regarded as a developed country. We have a particular sympathy and affinity with those people because we have been also a colonised country, having suffered and undergone great deprivation and poverty. The report continues:
At a broad policy level Ireland took a positive stance in relation to the demand of the Third World for a new international economic order which it was hoped would establish more just and equitable economic relations between the developed and developing countries and, in the long run, a more stable and peaceful world.
Senator Dooge has gone into this in great detail and has reminded us that we are dealing with people and individuals. This is the aspect that we should concentrate on. These considerations are included in this report and so also is the Government's aid programme embodying certain principles. I do not want to take time to go into those in detail. One of the principles is as follows:
There was to be balanced growth in various sectors but particularly where Ireland has a special interest or competence (e.g. rural development and education).
We would have much to contribute in this regard, being an agricultural country. Muintir na Tíre are one organisation who have contributed much to this country, from the point of view, for example, of adult education which is perhaps not as developed in this country as many people would wish. Nevertheless, the involvement and the experience we have in those areas could be a tremendous help in the developing countries.
The committee accept the principles outlined as the major priority areas of the Government. The report continues:
The committee recommends that programmes and projects flow from policy and not be established on an ad hoc basis and stresses that the need to tackle poverty should always be the basic criterion according to which decisions on the disbursement of Irish aid should be made.
Money spent on an ad hoc basis would be money wasted. Any money spent should be spent within the terms of an overall plan. Occasions might arise when it would be necessary to have a considerable amount of flexibility. This is dealt with also in the report. The flexibility should be within the overall projections and aspirations of the plan and not a flexibility which would result in ad hoc schemes and situations of that kind. If possible, projects should be capable of replication. Senator Bulbulia emphasised that point. I agree with her that in carrying out schemes by volunteers, certain expertise is required and mistakes can be corrected. Therefore, replication is something with which I would agree. If we acquire an ability in certain areas and we find out that these areas are of special importance we should endeavour to concentrate on those areas because the results are measurable. In that way, too, I am sure that the experts in those countries and the local students in time would become proficient in carrying out those programmes. The report continues:
In drawing up programmes resources should be defined and the needs of a country or region should be studied to establish the best possible way to proceed.
It is always essential to carry out a proper survey. It is important to achieve the best results, to study the situation and to decide on achievable targets. Therefore clear guidelines, as the report suggests, are needed for a future evaluation.
A general aim should be to demonstrate to the taxpayer, who is ultimately the provider of aid funds, that his money is being put to the best possible use for the best possible reasons.
This is very important. People who donate funds, small as they may be, like to think that all or most of the contributions will be spent in the actual provision of facilities.
Senator Bulbulia referred in passing to former schemes which were perhaps of a simple nature, for example, a penny for the black babies, which would be frowned on now. Nevertheless at that time when money was not so plentiful people and, particularly schoolgoing children, felt they were making a contribution and a little sacrifice. Therefore, in this way they were identifying with the problem.
I was very glad that Senator Bulbulia did not denigrate that method of trying to be helpful by the missionaries who gave their lives and their time to those projects.
In passing, I would like to pay a particular tribute to the missionaries of all religions who give their time and their lives for the rest of mankind. Indeed, what greater sacrifice could anyone make than to lay down his life for his friends?
I would like also to pay tribute to the volunteers who do marvellous work. Apparently there is some general rule regarding a maximum period of four years. The committee feel that there should be some flexibility here. There has been some improvement regarding leave granted to civil servants going abroad but perhaps more headway could be made in this regard.
In terms of the full report, it seems to me that this is a very involved area. I find it impossible to memorise the organisations involved from the initials given. Like Senator Bulbulia I am grateful that there is a list of those organisations with details at the back of the report. It seems a terribly involved area. It is an area where there is a certain amount of overlap between the different organisations. What clearly comes through from the report is that the work of the Government is of paramount importance in regard to co-ordinating the work, determining what has to be done, selecting priorities, determining targets and carrying out reviews. In that respect I want to pay tribute to the Government, to the concern of the people and to the Minister who was involved in this regard. I wish him well. I also welcome the report.