Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

Question 2: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason, in the recent reassessment of national expenditure, that part of the budget assigned to overseas development aid was cut by a higher percentage than those cuts made in other Departments and areas of Government spending; and if he will explain the implications this will have for Ireland's assurance of devoting 0.7% of GNP to ODA by the year 2012 and, in particular, the commitment to assist the poorest of the world. [5344/09]

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