HAITI DEMARCHE FOR BUDGET SUPPORT - IRISH RESPONSE

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000926

SIPDIS

USAID FOR LAC/CAR; TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIN PREL
SUBJECT: HAITI DEMARCHE FOR BUDGET SUPPORT - IRISH RESPONSE

REF: SECSTATE 132852


1. (U) We shared reftel points with Jonathan Conlon, in the
DFA's Latin American and Caribbean office, and Bronagh Carr,
development specialist at the DFA's Development Cooperation
Ireland office. Conlon said that Ireland had already
contributed EUR 500,000 to Haiti through UNICEF, OCHA, and
the International Federation of the Red Cross. Ireland had
also given an addition EUR 100,000 in response to the recent
floods. He could foresee that Ireland might provide further
financial support for the donors conference, however he could
not say whether Ireland would send someone to attend the
meeting itself.


2. (U) Carr pointed out that Ireland fully supports the
coordinated donor approach. They are "actively involved in
the Liberia Core Group and played a significant role at the
February Conference as part of their EU Presidency," she
said. Ireland has clearly supported calls on Haiti, although
Haiti is "a bit off their map," adding that Ireland "focuses
more on Africa."


3. (U) Both Carr and Conlon suggested we engage the
incoming EU President, the Dutch, as soon as practicable, on
this appeal as well as on the upcoming Donor's Conference.
They regretted they could not participate in planning for the
Conference due to constraints of resources and capacity
during the busy days at the end of the Irish Presidency.
KENNY