Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)

Equally, the reneging of the solemn promise given by the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, at the UN to meet the 0.7% GNP target, sullied the good name of Ireland in a most unnecessary and reprehensible way. If for no other reason than to restore Ireland's honourable good name, the Government must reaffirm Ireland's commitment to this target at the forthcoming UN millennium summit. I accept that the overseas development aid contribution of €1.8 billion between 2005 and 2007 will mark a significant increase in Ireland's aid programme. We could indeed be proud of it, if it were not for the commitment given, which now appears to be an act of hypocrisy and opportunism at a time when a seat on the security council was the motivating factor and not justice for the world's poorest countries.

I am not interested in the posing of mega-rich rock stars telling us what we must do with the tax we pay, when they themselves do not pay their own fair share of tax for anything, whether for our hospitals or aid to Africa.

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