Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)

The Minister of State said earlier that his Department was in discussions with the Department of Finance regarding future aid. He indicated that he will be announcing the new target before the end of the year. I am sure he will publish a nice glossy brochure again next year. Will he agree that the cynics among us would say the announcement of a new target before the United Nations summit meeting will be seen as providing a figleaf to the Taoiseach when he returns to the scene of his crime in New York where he made the original commitment to0.7%? Will the Minister of State assure me that any new target will be adhered to?

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