Report of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation on Budget Vote No 3: Foreign Affairs, dated 12 June 2009:

The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, having considered the 2009 Estimates of National Expenditure: Budget Vote 3 and Strategic Plan of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation for the 2009 financial year, reports as follows:

On 10 June 2009, the Portfolio Committee met and deliberated on the following issues:

• Key priority areas for the Department and their link to the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF).
• Appropriations for the Budget Vote 3 for the financial year 2009.
• An overview of programmes and allocations.
• Challenges facing the Department.
• Recommendations.

Major concerns raised by Members on the budget allocation encompassed the following:

• The global economic meltdown impacts negatively on the operations of the Department in its interaction with other countries in the world, in its endeavour to realise the objectives of its mandate.
• The foreign exchange rates fluctuations can have a negative impact on the budget allocation, affecting the activities of the Department abroad.

The Committee further recognised that most of its Members are new to the International Relations and Cooperation sector; the Committee will have follow-up briefings and sector specific workshops with the Department.

The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, having considered Budget Vote 3 and the Strategic Plan of the Department, reports that it has concluded its deliberations thereon.

The Committee recommends that Budget Vote 3: Foreign Affairs be passed.

Report to be considered.