Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Tom Hayes T.D. today addressed the 39th Session of the FAO Conference in Rome. The theme of the debate was Breaking the Cycle of Rural Poverty and Hunger by Strengthening Rural Resilience: Social Protection and Sustainable Agricultural Development.

In his opening remarks the Minister said “I am encouraged when I note that the number of hungry people has decreased in the time since I last addressed this Conference two years ago. This is good progress but it is not enough.  We must redouble our efforts in developing the necessary political will and commitment to end this shameful reality especially when we consider that under-nutrition is the underlying cause in the deaths of 7000 children under the age of five that die every day.”

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations is one of the largest specialised agencies of the UN dealing mainly with agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development. FAO currently has 194 member countries and one member organisation, the European Union.

Referring to the Millenium Development Goals, Minister Hayes said “I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate all those countries who, last Sunday, celebrated the achievement of Millennium Development Goals. We must continue our momentum to help every one of those countries still on the hunger map. Ireland has played an active role in negotiations to shape the post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals. This is a pivotal time in international development and it demands our full attention as the eradication of hunger and extreme poverty by 2030 emerge as possible goals.”

Minister Hayes concluded his address by saying “Let us use the diversity of our experience to put forward innovative solutions and take leadership at every level. By doing so, we can improve the lives not just of this generation, but future generations to come.”

View Press Release as a PDF: DAFMPR 101/2015 (pdf 367Kb) 

Date Released: 10 June 2015