Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I thank all the Senators who took part in this very good debate. Overseas aid represents an increasingly significant part of our foreign policy and it is important our approach to development be debated in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Over the past year, Irish Aid has made considerable progress in implementing the recommendations of the White Paper and the Government has put in place measures to enhance the response of Ireland and the international community to humanitarian disasters. We established an interdepartmental committee to strengthen coherence in the Government's approach to development related issues. The hunger task force comprises national and international experts and examines ways in which Ireland can best contribute to international efforts to reduce famine and hunger. The next meeting of the task force will take place in Cork next Friday.

Preparations are in train for one of the world's poorest countries, Malawi, to become the ninth bilateral recipient of Irish aid. In the new year, we will be opening a volunteering and information centre on O'Connell Street, designed to raise awareness of the development challenges facing the international community. Ireland's response to these challenges and opportunities for Irish people to get involved directly at home and abroad are very important. I encourage Senators to let their constituencies know about the opening of the centre in 2008.

Irish Aid is available to supply information on visits to the centre, and an outreach campaign to school, youth and community groups is under way. As part of this campaign, I have written to transition year co-ordinators throughout the country to encourage them to bring their students to the centre.

I will reply to a few points that have been raised. I thank Senator Cummins for his comments on the hunger task force. He asked about a twinning project between Waterford and a South African township and whether this project will get funding. The answer is "Yes". There is a civil society fund which gives grants to projects such as this and I can give the Senator information on how to apply for the fund.

I also agree with Senator Daly about the question of working with partner countries. As he noted, they have the main responsibility for their development and we will continue to work closely with governments in a spirit of true partnership. I also agree with him about the role of private individuals and what they can do to help countries. I applaud those Irish benefactors who have given generously. The Niall Mellon Township Trust was mentioned. We are all impressed by Niall Mellon's initiative in building houses for poor people in South Africa. A request has been made to Irish Aid for significant funding which is being examined. I expect this proposal to be considered favourably. I said last week that we could do with many more Niall Mellons to help out in poorer countries.

The question of corruption has been raised. All spending by Irish Aid is heavily monitored by independent auditors and internal evaluation. I certainly agree that corruption is a significant problem. Senator Norris raised this point. The issue is dealt with fully in the White Paper and I would like Senators to read what it says. We must work with governments because they are uniquely placed to help their people and fight corruption. Indeed, many countries in Africa are fighting hard against corruption and we should not belittle their efforts. The Irish Aid programme works hard to strengthen institutions such as parliamentary committees, audit bodies and civil society groups which can raise the necessary queries about government spending and fighting corruption.

Senator Bacik raised the question of disability in Irish Aid. I certainly would be happy to look at greater ways of tackling disability. This is an area where we could do more, although we support organisations such as Sight Savers, and I am glad that we gave substantial support to organisations such as the United Nations Population Fund and UNIFEM.

Senator Mullen spoke about the cost of corruption to countries. I agree with him that there is a balance between funding to governments, non-governmental organisations, missionaries and the United Nations. The issue of governance is very important, as he pointed out.

The question of trade is very important and is as important as aid. Senator Ormonde raised this issue and I agree with the point she made. We support trade links and very much applaud the work of ambassadors and our embassies where they are involved in helping investment.

In respect of the Volunteering and Information Centre, in the programme for Government we envisaged further information centres in Cork and Galway. I certainly will pursue this.

Senator Alex White raised the issue of staffing. We are having a management review which is examining the question of resources and staffing in Irish Aid. This review includes Limerick.

Senator Alex White and Senator de Búrca raised the question of supporting freedom of trade. We know that trade can work against poor countries and very much support poor countries in our discussions in Brussels with development ministers. We are meeting there again next week to discuss the economic partnership agreements with the ACP countries. We have stressed that these agreements should benefit rather than penalise the poorer countries.

In respect of legislating for 0.7% of gross domestic product, my chief target is to continue the strong upward trend in funding. The only comment I will make about legislation is that the practice of ring-fencing any one area of expenditure will obviously have implications for the budget as a whole. Therefore, it must be very carefully thought out. All I can say is that it is 0.5% at the moment and that we are working towards 0.6% of GDP by 2010 and 0.7% by 2012.

Senator de Búrca raised the question of climate change. Environment is one of the four cross-cutting issues in the aid programme. I agree fully that we need to place greater emphasis on climate change. My Department will support the work of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and participate actively at conferences such as the forthcoming one in Bali.

Senator Buttimer asked me to encourage more Fairtrade centres, cities and towns, which I would certainly like to do. I saw a very good display of products in Dublin Castle recently. Senator Buttimer and other Senators from Cork will be glad to know that Kinsale did very well in respect of Fairtrade towns. Senator Buttimer also mentioned missionaries and the great work of the Irish Missionary Resource Service. I am favourably disposed to increasing the budget for this service next year and am fighting to bring this about.

Senator Ross raised the question of United Nations aid for Zimbabwe. I can tell the Senator that Ireland has stopped all assistance to Zimbabwe because of the situation there. Obviously, we are giving money to religious orders to assist HIV-AIDS patients and are supporting John O'Shea and GOAL, which is a partner of the Irish Aid multi-annual programme scheme. We will shortly announce a new multi-annual agreement providing substantial funding for GOAL. I support the Senator's comments about missionaries and NGOs.

I commend Senator O'Malley on the work in which she is engaged in respect of violence against women in developing countries. Senator Feeney mentioned Lesotho, which was our first programme country and a country in which I monitored elections in 1993. Very good work has been done there and I welcome what Senator Hannigan said about development co-operation.

I agree with Senator Carty's comments about the Westport Aror (Kenya) Partnership. I attended the 25th anniversary of that partnership last Sunday. It is a very good partnership that could be taken on board by other towns throughout Ireland in the same way as has been done in Waterford, as Senator Cummins said. I hope that through the micro project funding, we can assist such projects.

In respect of Iran, I note the points made by Senator O'Toole. The Senator knows my own interest in Iraq. I have spoken about Iraq in this House and visited the country in early 2003. I will bring his points to the attention of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Senator Ó Murchú spoke about essential drugs and medicines being made available at less expensive rates than we see in this country. The William J. Clinton Foundation has been of great help in doing that. I support Senator Ó Murchú's comments about the moral leadership that countries such as Ireland should give.

I agree with Senator Boyle that Ireland's aid is not tied to particular conditions. I will certainly take on board the question he raised about the International Development Association and bring these points to the attention of the Minister for Finance.

Community and Oireachtas support will be vital for Irish Aid programmes, especially as the level of aid reaches the United Nations target of 0.7% of GDP. I am grateful to the Oireachtas for the role it plays in highlighting development issues and encouraging greater interest. I encourage Senators to consider visiting Irish Aid's programme countries to see for themselves the progress being made. These visits raise awareness of the work of Irish Aid and our partners in development, including Irish NGOs and missionaries. A debate such as this highlights the challenges faced by the developing world and Ireland's contribution to the international response. Irish people can be proud of the contribution made by Irish Aid to tackling world poverty. I thank Senators for their contributions.