Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

First, I agree with Deputy Ó Fearghaíl. One of the perhaps unspoken weapons of war that Putin uses is the turmoil he has created beyond the traditional battlefield, both in the context of the challenges of migration and the migratory patterns that we have seen as a result and the many member states of the European Union and the broader European family feeling the need to significantly increase their defence and security spending, as the Deputy rightly said. Some of them have done that at the cost of their overseas development aid, which is most regrettable. We are clear in this regard. The Deputy will remember that we have been remarkably consistent as a people, even through financial crisis, in seeing the value of overseas development aid.

I have not knocked on any doors around the country where people have said we should be spending less on overseas development. I think people are proud of the contribution we have made. The 0.7% remains where we want to get to. How we get there or when we get there will be a matter for the ongoing budgetary and Estimates discussions we have. We were at, as I said in my opening statement, 0.57% in the last year we have official figures for. I need to be truthful. That is inclusive of the Ukrainian refugee support. It is 0.41% when that is removed. We are moving in the right direction. The commitment - the North Star - remains the same. The exact timeline for arriving at the destination remains dependent on annual budgetary cycles.