merrion street

Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore began a four-day visit to Tanzania today. Tanzania is one of the priority countries for the Government's aid programme, and while there the Tánaiste will assess the impact of Ireland's aid programme in the fight against poverty and hunger. He will also meet senior members of Government and will co-host a High Level Forum on the fight against hunger with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.

During his visit the Tánaiste will also meet local communities, representatives of Irish NGOs and business contacts, as well as visiting agriculture programmes and education and health facilities which are funded by Ireland. He will also visit a rural electrification scheme run by ESB International. 

Looking ahead to the visit, the Tánaiste said:

I am looking forward to seeing the impact that our aid programme is having on the ground and to meeting the organisations and local communities that we are supporting in the fight against poverty and malnutrition. 

I am particularly pleased to have this opportunity, with Secretary of State Clinton to highlight once again the importance of the global fight against hunger and malnutrition. Ireland, in partnership with the US, has taken a leadership role on this critical development issue which is at the heart of our aid programme.  Our work with the US will help ensure that children in some of the poorest countries in the world, including Tanzania, get the nutrition they need to survive, and to lead healthy and productive lives.

For more detail on the visit read the full press release here.