Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach referenced Britain's good record in recent years with regard to overseas development aid. That followed the decision by Mr. Blair's Government to implement the legislative requirement. One of the Taoiseach's party colleagues suggested to our committee that we should be doing likewise. I presume the Taoiseach does not have any particular legislation in mind for the moment with regard to the 0.7% of gross national income.

Another suggestion that we put forward in our report was in the area of improving policy coherence. We have asked the Government to develop a cross-departmental plan of action as recommended by the OECD. That would help to ensure better co-ordination and better coherence of development policy across Government. There is good work going on in the transfer of knowledge in food production, animal husbandry and crop husbandry. More Departments, agencies and sectors can contribute to overseas development aid in different ways. I saw the transfer of knowledge in Mozambique and Malawi with regard to the growing of potatoes and dealing with crop difficulties. So much can be achieved and it is an inexpensive way of helping some of the most deprived people in the world.