Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I compliment the Minister on providing this opportunity to debate this important issue. The reasons for its importance are graphically illustrated by the pictures on our televisions, which serve to focus our minds and attention on those who are less well off than we are, in particular given our historic memory of hunger and starvation in this country.

The millennium development goals commit the international community to a series of objectives to which the Minister referred, namely, to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV-AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and develop a global partnership for development. It is a fine set of objectives and one that will take not only the commitment of the Government and people as set out by the Minister but also the commitment and sustained effort of the world community, which will need to be focused specifically and objectively to ensure that aid goes where it is most needed and most effective.

I compliment the various Irish aid agencies which have over the years committed their money and effort to addressing the issues in this area. Reference was made by the Minister to the 0.7% objective for development aid. As we know, that objective has been tossed about for at least 15 years and has been revised more than once. The Taoiseach correctly made a commitment to the United Nations in New York under this heading but the target was revised downwards four years later, which was not helpful and gave the wrong impression, in particular when we consider the effort made by the Irish people to contribute to international aid. I ask the Minister to reconfirm that there will be no further revision and that we will have achieved this objective in full by 2012. Regardless of whatever else may happen, further revision would not be helpful.

One of the major events affecting international aid was the world conference to which I referred but another was the G8 conference at Gleneagles last year, which purported to focus attention on debt relief and the alleviation of poverty as a result, and to address the issues concerning countries which suffer heavily from the burden of debt. Reference was not made to this conference in the Minister's reply because it did not exactly correspond to the issue under discussion, but there is a relationship and it would be helpful if the Minister would comment. For example, certain commitments were entered into whereby large-scale debt write-off would take place on foot of certain other obligations which were to be met. I do not know — I have put down questions in this regard — the full extent to which the countries contributing to the write-off of debt have met their commitments and whether the expected benefits have transpired. For example, have African farmers, who it was expected would benefit, benefited from the package to the extent anticipated or, as has been claimed, have others benefited? The Minister might refer to this question in his response.

I particularly welcome the rapid response proposals, which are in accord with Fine Gael policy as previously enunciated. It is patently obvious that a rapid response unit was the only answer to international catastrophe. Planning could take place on a segmented basis prior to any need and, when the need arose, the response could be made quickly, effectively and efficiently, and could be targeted. It is a particularly welcome development. It will show good results and will greatly enable those who are involved in delivering aid while at the same time being of more direct benefit to recipients.

The White Paper reaffirms the existing policy goals of helping the poorest people, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, principally by focusing on basic needs in education and health. The paper also includes commitments to tackling corruption through good governance. The effort of the international community, the Irish community in particular, in delivering, co-ordinating and directing aid to those most seriously in need is obviously laudable. However, it will all come to naught unless there is the application of good governance on the side of the recipients. We have argued this issue in the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and other fora, as the Minister knows. It is important it is enforced to the best of our ability. That means when aid is being raised and handed over, we should have some knowledge of what the people to whom it is given are going to do with it. We should ensure they do not use it as an indirect subsidy to buy land mines, bombs, guns or shells. While there has been considerable movement in that area recently, there is room for more improvement.

It is proposed to prepare for emergencies, humanitarian intervention, conflict prevention, peace building, policy coherence and public private partnership. That is by way of encouraging groups that have particular expertise in an area into development aid. Private Irish companies have gone into South African townships where they have got directly involved in building houses and have made dramatic strides. They should be applauded for what they have done. They have proved what can be done. They engaged in direct, one-to-one intervention which has been very effective. They are on site and can see the benefits themselves.

Some of the key decisions outlined in the Government paper are that Africa will remain the principal geographic focus for Irish Aid. That is right. Malawi will be designated as a partner country and the number of partner countries will be increased from eight to ten in the medium term. That is a positive development and befits a nation of our wealth. Work in fragile states will be deepened and there will be a focus on Sierra Leone and Liberia. Regional programmes in south-east Asia will be instigated. Regional programmes in southern and west Africa will be developed. There is a series of proposals, which are all positive, well-paced and will be effective.

Decentralisation to Limerick of the aid team here is proposed.

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