P olicy C oherence for D evelopment

1. Policy Coherence for Development Is Ireland Sending One Message?

2. The Case for PCD:“When Elephants Mate, Many Ants Get Crushed” Source: http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=12876 [Accessed Nov 6 2010] Rita Formolo and Helen Martin

3. Literature Review International • EU consortium • CONCORD Ireland • The State of Play Policy Coherence for Development: The State of Play in Ireland Barry, King, Matthew IIIS,Trinity College, Dublin Rita Formolo and Helen Martin

4. “We need to re-energise international efforts to build the effectiveness of aid, recognising that overseas development aid, ODA, while an essential element in the process of development, is only one element. We also need to consider what is meant by policy coherence for development. At a minimum, it must be concerned with ensuring that actions in favour of international development are not undermined by policies and actions at national and international levels in other key sectors.” Michael Gaffey, Deputy Director General, Irish Aid, May 2010

5. Discussion:The Progress of PCD in Ireland Inter-Departmental Committee for Development (IDCD) • Established 2007 • Chaired by Minister for State Peter Power • Representatives from all government departments • Presentations from Dóchas, IIIS and Dutch envoy • Two sub groups - Skill Set and Multi-lateral Organizations • Seminars for governmental departments on development • But no capacity for action and lack of transparency. Rita Formolo and Helen Martin

6. Legislative • TD’s are “exceptional in knowledge and interest” but resources dwindling - Michael D. Higgins • Committee system is obstacle to better coherence • No parliamentary structure in place to properly commit to PCD Civil Society • Can deliver exogenous pushes forcing PCD on agenda • Christian Aid and Trócaire • However - PCD is fairly new and as a result Civil Society (as with legislative) have not fully adapted to change.

7. Recommendations • Goals: Set achievable targets to generate momentumlooking forward to High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Seoul, South Korea in November 2011 • Civil society Engagement: Discussion must be facilitated. Representatives can convene to discuss DAC pier review, IIIS suggestions and current functionality of IDCD for a mutual intervention • Active engagement: Progress reports should be sent to government departments every six months, including aims and issues on the IDCD agenda. • Monitoring and Evaluation: Policy indicators that are currently being finalized by the IIIS should be adopted as soon as possible. • Transparency: Annual reports and minutes of meetings made available online within reasonable timeframe • Take the lead in Europe: Championing an issue, in which Ireland is quite neutral i.e. fisheries. Ireland has the capacity to promote real change at a European level

8. Conclusion • The landscape is far different than it was in 2006 • But Ireland is sending mixed messages • Throwing the question of effectiveness of aid into limelight, promoting policy coherence shows that Ireland is a frontrunner in development, not only regarding ODA but with positive action. • Structures that are currently in place nurture ideas surrounding policy coherence yet what is necessary is to create movement and ensure that the debates that are had have an impact on future policies • This requires a complex choreography between the IDCD, the Legislative and Civil Society, all playing different roles

9. Bibliography • Roger C. Riddell, Does Foreign Aid Really Work? OUP Oxford; First Edition edition (19 April 2007) • Barry et al, Policy Coherence for Development, The State of Play in Ireland, IIIS, Trinity College, Dublin (2009) • European Commission, Development Policies: Policy Coherence for Development, <http://ec.europa.eu/development/policies/policy_coherence_en.cfm> , [Accessed 3 November 2010] • Eurotreaties, Maastrict Treaty, http://www.eurotreaties.com/maastrichtext.html [Accessed 3 November 2010] • Houses of the Oireachtas, Parliamentary Debates: Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Dublinhttp://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=FOJ20100526.XML&Ex=All&Page=2 [Accessed 3 November 2010] • Ireland. OECD (2009) DAC Peer Review Dublin: Irish Aid Available at www.oecd.org/dac/peerreviews • EU Think Tanks, New Challenges, New Beginnings, Overseas Development Institute 2010 • CONCORD, Spotlight on Policy Coherence, Brussels, Belgium. October 2009 • Irish Aid Website (2007, 2008, 2009) Inter-Departmental Committee on Development Meetings minutes [Internet] Dublin. Available from http://www.irishaid.gov.ie/parters_irish.asp • Irish Aid Website (Jun 2008) Inter-Departmental Committee on Development Annual Report [Internet] Dublin. Available from http://www.irishaid.gov.ie/parters_irish.asp • Ireland. The Advisory Board for Irish Aid (2006) Policy Coherence for Development – Coherence between Ireland Official Development Cooperation Activities and other Policy Areas in Particular Agricultural Trade and Support Policies. Research series 1. Dublin. • Government of Ireland. White Paper on Irish Aid (2006). Dublin • OECD, 2009 Annual Report on OECD Work on Policy Coherence for Development Available at: www.oecd.org/publishing/corrigenda.