The Taoiseach addresses the High-Level Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals at the United Nations, New York, Thursday 25 September 2008

The Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen TD, addressed a special High-Level meeting of the United Nations today and re-affirmed Ireland’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

“It is nothing short of scandalous that there are over 860 million hungry people in the world today. We do not need to make further pledges if we just deliver on what we have already promised. The commitments and the know-how are already there. It is the political will and action that will make the difference in the fight against hunger.”

2008 marks the half-way point between the 2000 development goals pledge and the target date of 2015. The Taoiseach re-affirmed Ireland’s commitment to the MDGs and to playing its full part in the effort being undertaken by the world community to eradicate poverty and hunger.

While attending the United Nations this morning, the Taoiseach launched the Government’s Hunger Task Force Report in the presence of UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon and members of the Task Force including former Minister for Agriculture Joe Walsh, Jeffrey Sachs and Bono. The Hunger Task Force was established last year to look at ways in which Ireland could best deliver genuine progress and a sustainable impact in the fight against hunger.

The Taoiseach welcomed the focus of the Report on three key areas of action – increasing agricultural production in Africa; targeting maternal and infant under-nutrition; and changes in governance and leadership priorities. He said the Government would reflect on the Report’s findings to determine how best to move forward.

“ It is my sincere hope that this Report will encourage and inspire other governments and multilateral organisations – in both developing and developed countries – and civil society organisations to tackle hunger with a renewed commitment, and to ratchet it up to the top of our global priorities, where it belongs.”

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