Mr. Conor Lenihan, T.D., Minister of State for Development Cooperation and Human Rights met today with Dr. Nabil Shaath, Palestinian Foreign Minister. Minister Lenihan and Dr Shaath discussed the current political situation in Palestine and the longer term and humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people. Minister Lenihan reiterated Ireland's continuing support for Palestine and announced a further programme of funding which will amount to over €10m in assistance over a three year period (2005-2007).
Announcing this decision today, Minister Lenihan stated:
"This three year programme of funding underlines our continued commitment to the Palestinian people. It addresses the human suffering caused by the current crisis while at the same time enhances the capacity of Development Cooperation Ireland's partners in Palestine to meet future long term development needs".
Note for Editors:
Development Cooperation Ireland (DCI) has provided assistance to Palestine since 1987. Since 2002, Ireland has provided over €9 million in assistance in emergency and development programmes in Palestine. Under the new three year programme, funding will be focused on basic education as the priority sector and will include local government programmes, civil society initiatives as well as emergency and humanitarian assistance. The new funding programme envisages a strengthening of monitoring of human rights and democratisation and civil society initiatives, systematic use of joint donor mechanisms to monitor overall economic performance, engagement with the educations sector working group to assist in planning and the monitoring the development of basic education and support to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs who monitor the humanitarian situation.