IRAQ ASSISTANCE: IRELAND EARMARKS 1 MILLION EURO

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000749 SIPDIS EB/ODF FOR RDEMARCELLUS; EB/IRAQ FOR MKISSEL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN PREL SUBJECT: IRAQ ASSISTANCE: IRELAND EARMARKS 1 MILLION EURO IRGFFI CONTRIBUTION FOR UNICEF REF: SECSTATE 108776 ¶1. Ireland and UNDP have exchanged administration contracts for Ireland's one million Euro contribution to the International Reconstruction Trust Fund Facility for Iraq (IRGFFI). In response to reftel demarche, Aine Hearns, Assistant Principal in the Development Cooperation Directorate, Rehabilitation Assistance office, told Poloff on May 17 that the GOI had tried to transfer the funds to UNDP already. Something went wrong at the bank in New York and today they hope to sort it out. ¶2. Ireland earmarked the money for primary education programs run by UNICEF. Hearns recalled that at the last donors conference, Ireland had mentioned a possible three million Euro contribution over three years. She said Ireland would see how it went with the first million before committing further. ¶3. Hearns said that the Netherlands would represent the Presidency (as presidency sur place) at the meeting in Qatar May 25-26 and that the Commission would be there. She added that she is fully briefed on Iraqi development issues since she serves as a member of the Iraqi Core Group, representing the EU Presidency. KENNY