Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Ó Fearghaíl tar éis dó comhghairdeas a ghabháil liom i ndiaidh mo cheapacháin mar chathaoirleach ar an OSCE, agus freisin le mo chomhghleacaí, an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Costello.

Deputy Ó Fearghaíl has acknowledged we are in difficult economic and fiscal circumstances. When these are taken into account, the adjustment made to the overseas development assistance budget is a small one. It is not €53 million as claimed by Deputy Ó Fearghaíl. That sum derives from the figure which was projected at the time of the 2011 budget, based on different assumptions about gross national product and the level of overseas development assistance that would apply through 2012. The actual adjustment is from €659 million to €639 million, a €20 million reduction.

When compared to the 29% adjustment made by Deputy Ó Fearghaíl's party when in government, which saw the budget go from €920 million in 2008 to €659 million in 2011, this year's adjustment is minimal. It will not impact on front-line services. Some of it will be absorbed by a reduction in administrative costs.

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