Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like Deputy Seán Crowe, I welcome the recent announcement of the further allocation of funding for Syria and the adjoining region. I take the opportunity to emphasise again the need for assistance for the region, although I fully understand there are many competing demands. Am I correct in thinking the Minister of State said the percentage of GNP spent this year on overseas development aid will be 0.43%? I gather that last year the figure was 0.47%. Is the Minister of State saying the commitment given in the programme for Government will not be honoured?

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