News - Monday 8th May 2006

Irish Foreign Affairs Committee visits Ethiopia

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has met with the Chairman and members of the Irish Parliament Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs during their visit to Ethiopia.  The members of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee – Mr Pat Carey TD, Mr Tony Dempsey TD, Senator Brenden Ryan and Chairman Dr Michael Woods TD – were in Ethiopia from 2^nd to 5^th May 2006 to familiarise themselves with political and other developments in the country since their last visit in 2004, and to view the implementation of Ireland’s aid programme in Ethiopia.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting with the Prime Minister on Thursday 4th May, Dr Woods said that Ireland would strengthen its development assistance to Ethiopia, adding that bilateral cooperation between the two countries was in ‘good shape’ and that he had seen the ongoing work of development programmes in Ethiopia - such as the Social Safety Nets Fund which is supported by Ireland and provides five million people with cash or food in exchange for labour - which he described as being “well executed.”

Dr Woods noted the possibilities of further utilising the tourism opportunities in Ethiopia, and that Irish investors were showing an increasing interest in the country.

In their meeting, the Prime Minister expressed Ethiopia’s appreciation for Ireland’s development assistance and their eagerness to learn lessons from the country’s economic development.

During their three day visit to Ethiopia the delegation met with Ethiopian parliamentarians from both Government and opposition parties, representatives of civil society, as well as Irish Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and missionaries working in the country.

Ireland’s total bilateral aid to Ethiopia in 2005 amounted to €35 million, and it is expected that the total funding in 2006 will be at roughly the same level. The aid is spent on addressing the needs of the rural poor, for example, by supporting the provision of basic health care at village level, combating the spread of HIV/AIDS, funding teacher training, strengthening the public service etc.

ENDS