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