Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Okay. Does the Minister of State have the final figure for 2016? There has been only a €10 million increase, although I acknowledge that, in fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, he will be fighting for additional provision. I recognise the work of Irish Aid, Mr. Gaffey and his team. It is superb, there is no question about that, but it needs to be further resourced. During our first meeting last year I raised the issue of multiannual planning, which I accept will require the agreement of all parties and groups. I am aware of the difficulties which the Minister of State will face in terms of going to Government and asking for a significant increase for overseas development aid at a time when other Ministers are seeking funds for other projects, but while the current provision is significant, we are going backwards. There is no point in restating a goal that we are never going to achieve. In a previous report to the committee by, I think, the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, we were told that we were expected to achieve the 0.7% target by 2030. Is that the official Government line now? We need to give serious consideration to what is achievable over a five year timeframe and to put that money in place. The Minister of State needs to put that up to other parties, including Fianna Fáil.

Following on from the spring statement, the Committee on Budgetary Oversight is the starting point for the budgetary process. A €10 million per annum increase is not enough. If we continue with that, we will end up sliding backwards such that we might as well forget about ever achieving the 0.7% target. I am not laying responsibility for this at the door of the Minister of State because it is the responsibility of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Minister of State and the Government. It is about time all parties and groups were asked what they propose to do in monetary terms. I proposed that last year. Fianna Fáil is open to working with Government in this regard and we want other parties and groups to do likewise. The tough choice will have to be made. We need to see a significant increase in this budget. I recognise the work of Dóchas and other NGOs in this sector in working with Irish Aid. Fianna Fáil has done work on this issue. We estimate that to get to 0.4% over a four year period, a €60 million to €70 million allocation will be required next year, but that is unlikely to happen. We need either to forget about the target and be realistic - which I do not want us to do - or take serious steps to achieve it.

The work being done with our partner countries is great. Is consideration being given to our partnering with other countries' aid programmes? I a believer in untied aid. The British model is slightly different from that. Some countries will use aid for trade. I do not think we should do that but we can use Irish Aid to partner with countries that, perhaps, diplomatically we have work to do but with which we do not have the necessary business ties. There are countries that do a lot of work in Africa, including Israel. The Minister of State might be surprised to hear me mention that but I genuinely believe Irish Aid is a really good vehicle through which we can improve our relations with other countries or get to know other countries better. Is any such work under consideration? I again commend the work that Irish Aid is doing. I would like to see us support it more and to see us make greater progress in achieving the 0.7% target. That is not happening.