Many other parts of the ICPD Programme of Action, such as the prevention of STIs, are still at a crucial stage of development. They need continued funding if they are going to succeed. Not as much as it could. Historically, domestic controversies over reproductive health and family planning, combined with the strength of the Catholic Church, have kept the Irish government from active involvement in overseas family planning programmes. The time to act is now Because of our world's young population, more young women than ever before are entering their childbearing years.
More funding is needed now to enable more couples plan and space their families as they desire.
Ireland needs to look to its own contribution to the ICPD Programme of Action. Its population assistance effort including family planning, remains small. Within the last few years, aid in this area has been limited in size, focus and geographical area. Contributions to the sector fall well below the donor average as a percentage of overall development aid, ranking Ireland 17th out of 21 donor countries. The IFPA strongly recommends that the ODA is increased by 0.05 per cent of GNP annually to reach the UN goal of 0.7 per cent of GNP by 2009.