Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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In regard to the percentage of money that is given to our key partner countries, if we break down the 0.91% for the European fund roughly, what we allocate to our partner countries out of that is approximately €43 million or €44 million. Therefore, of all the money we give towards the European Development Fund, the amount that goes to the countries we have chosen as partner countries is relatively small. My other concern regarding the fund is that as our funding and budget for Irish Aid decreases, the amount we are committed to giving to the European fund increases. Therefore, the money this country has discretion over, whether we give it to Trócaire, Concern or an NGO or whether we target it as we wish towards a programme such as the AIDS programme in Zambia or education in one of the partner countries we have chosen, is limited. My concern is that what we control of our overseas aid budget has diminished enormously in the past number of years. The figure Mr. Cotter has provided of €286 million is close to 40% or 50% of our overseas aid budget. It is simply a matter of writing a cheque and out the door it goes to Europe, but only €40 million odd of it goes to the countries we are most concerned with. I am concerned that we are not in control of our aid budget any more.