Irish Government to Increase and Broaden Humanitarian and Development Aids to Liberia

Monrovia: March 3, 2008; A delegation of the Advisory Board for Irish Aid, the development aid arm of the Government of the Republic of Ireland, arrived in the country over the weekend to explore ways of deepening Ireland’s development aid assistance to Liberia.

The delegation, which is headed by the former Foreign Minister of Ireland, Mr. David Andrews, comprises of three other board members, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland, the Iris Aid representative in Freetown, Sierra Leone, as well as Ireland’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, with multiple accreditations to Liberia and Sierra Leone, Mr. Kyle O’Sullivan.

While in the country, the delegation of the Advisory Board for Irish Aid will be meeting with some key Government officials, including the Ministers of Finance and Health and Social Welfare.

Earlier in the day, the delegation was received in audience at the Foreign Ministry by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador William V.S. Bull, on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Madam Olubanke King-Akerele.  During discussions, Ambassador Bull welcomed the delegation to Liberia and expressed thanks and appreciation to the Irish Government for the numerous assistance it has been giving to the Liberian Government, especially Ireland’s commendable contributions to UNMIL’s success in restoring stability to Liberia.

For his part, the head of the Irish delegation informed Ambassador Bull of the Irish Government’s decision to expand and broaden its aid program to Liberia. As a result, he said, his Government will shortly be opening an office in Liberia to coordinate all Irish sponsored development projects in the country.

During fiscal year 2007, Irish humanitarian aid to Liberia amounted to over eight million Euros. These amounts were largely used to fund humanitarian projects implemented by various UN Agencies including UNMIL, as well as other non-Governmental International Organizations.