IRISH RESPONSE TO POLIO DEMARCHE

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000822 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KSCA TBIO WHO SUBJECT: IRISH RESPONSE TO POLIO DEMARCHE REF: STATE 118559 On June 27, Post delivered reftel demarche regarding the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) to David Weakliam, Health Development Specialist with Development Corporation Ireland (DCI, the USAID-equivalent agency within the Department of Foreign Affairs.) On July 1, Weakliam informed Post that, on June 30, Minister of State for Development Cooperation and Human Rights, Conor Lenihan, had approved an immediate allocation of euro 500,000 to WHO for PEI. Weakliam noted that the GOI saw polio eradication as a priority and would consider the possibility of further allocations later in the year when additional budgetary funds for DCI became available. He added that the UK Government had also contacted the GOI recently for PEI contributions, a request that, combined with the USG demarche, had given DCI more impetus to make the allocation. KENNY