Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I cannot accept the Deputy's assertion. Ours is a firm commitment. He must remember that this commitment relates to a period of 12 to 15 years and that we are three years ahead of the European Union in this regard. The decisions we made over a period of nine months - which have been severe in their impact - must be considered in the context of our commitment being long-term in nature. These decisions, albeit it difficult and made in the short term, have the sole objective of ensuring that when our commitments in respect of donating a percentage of our GNP are met, that GNP will have been produced by a sustainable and growing economy. Not to make those decisions now would mean that our commitments really are meaningless.

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