Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I assure the Deputy that my aim, and that of the Minister, is to protect the aid budget and aid programme to the maximum possible extent in the context of the budgetary process that is under way. I simply cannot give another response to the Deputy, other than to say that we remain committed to reaching 0.7% of GNP on ODA levels. The sum of 0.7% of an economy that is faltering and significantly reducing its GNP is not of much assistance to our development partners in sub-Saharan Africa. I would much prefer to see the percentage, commensurate with our current financial position, of an economy where we are laying down the foundations of a solid platform for future growth. In that case, when we reach our commitment of 0.7% of GNP it will be 0.7% of a robust, thriving economy which can sustain an aid programme in future.

Deputy Higgins said that we experienced a reputational enhancement through the ODA programme and I accept that. It was borne out by the OECD report, which was published earlier this year. However, the reputation of our country would be seriously damaged, perhaps forever, if we did not take control of our public finances and continued to borrow at unsustainable levels to the extent that the IMF would come in. That would be the ultimate damage to our reputation.

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