Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

No, I cannot give any indication for the coming years because we must take all these areas of expenditure into account in the context of the budgetary realities. A very significant improvement has been made in this area. We made a commitment prior to the financial crisis that we would reach the target of 0.7% of GNP by 2012. It remains an objective - whether it is achievable will have to be determined according to the facts and circumstances as outlined. A commitment of almost €800 million this year, compared to €116 million when we took office, is a fair indication of the commitment the Government has made in this area over the 12-year period and of the need for us to continue to strive to achieve the UN target. We are fifth or sixth per head of population in the world in terms of the contribution we make. All of us would subscribe to trying to improve that goal and to accelerate it to the greatest extent possible. We would all acknowledge that no area of expenditure, however worthy, is immune from consideration given the financial state of the country at present.

See this speech in context