The Government has strongly criticised the US decision to withdraw its funding of $34 million from the UN Populations Fund (UNFPA).
The Minster of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Tom Kitt, said he was "very disappointed" at the news, but insisted the Republic would continue its financial support of the UN body.
This year Ireland Aid contributed €1.84 million to the UNFPA, an increase of 43 per cent on last year.
A spokesman for Mr Kitt said the Government believes the UN agency performs excellent work, particularly in the field of maternity services and childcare.
The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) - which is the UNFPA’s partner in Ireland, also condemned the decision.
The IFPA’s Chief Executive, Mr Tony O’Brien, said the lack of adequate funding for UNFPA "will result in the withdrawal of family planning services to some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world." He called on the Government to lobby the EU to ensure that any shortfalls in UNFPA funding are met by EU memberstates.
Yesterday's decision by the Bush administration to withdraw the funds, which had already been approved by the US Congress, is being seen as a concession to the powerful right-wing Christian lobby.
UNFPA provides contraception and gynecological services, advice on avoiding teenage pregnancies and HIV/AIDS prevention in 142 countries.
The agency has been accused of assisting the Chinese government in its one-child-per-family population control policy, with specific claims of its participating in alleged forced abortions and sterilisations in parts of China.
Investigations by both the US State Department and UNFPA cleared the agency of all involvement, either directly or indirectly.
The Executive Director of UNFPA, Ms Thoraya Obaid, said today the US decision could cost the lives of thousands of women and children.
"The $34 million from the US would have allowed the agency to prevent two million unwanted pregnancies and more than 77,000 infant and child deaths," she said.
Ms Obaid also stressed that UNFPA’s programme in China observed the highest standards of human rights and that any participation was voluntary.
"UNFPA has not, does not and will not ever condone or support coercive activities of any kind, anywhere," she said.
