Irish aid efforts on UN agenda

Minister of State for Irish Aid Conor Lenihan will attend a major speech by out-going UN Secretary General Kofi Annan today as part of a visit to discuss Irish aid efforts.

Mr Lenihan is visiting the UN headquarters in New York to review Irish aid cooperation with UN agencies as well as on-going reforms with the UN system.

As part of the visit Mr Lenihan is attending the major address by Kofi Annan. Mr Lenihan yesterday attended the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) international donors’ pledging conference for 2007.

He met under secretary Jan Egeland who has been charged with overall responsibility for UN Emergency Relief and Humanitarian Affairs.

The minister said Ireland was doubling its contribution to €20m to the CERF.

The emergency response fund helps to save lives and alleviate the suffering of millions of people caught up in conflict or natural hazards.