Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Those are positive developments.

When the Tánaiste addressed the UN General Assembly in New York he reiterated that Ireland would reach the overseas aid target of 0.7% by 2015. How will we reach that target? I believe the aid budget has been cut by a third in recent years. Most people who are active in this area wonder how we will reach the target. If there are to be cuts, what areas will be cut? Will this have a direct impact, resulting in children not being fed? What impacts will there be down the line? What programmes will need to be cut back? Every year we hear of a new crisis in a different part of the world. What will do if the money is not there and the demands are? Clearly, things are getting worse in many countries. People have pointed out that the Tánaiste gave the speech in New York and then announced a cut when he came back to Ireland.