Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason he has decided to produce a White Paper on development assistance. [3041/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome this opportunity to confirm to the House the decision to produce a White Paper on Ireland's official development co-operation programme. The Deputy will be aware of the increases in funding for official development assistance with €545 million being allocated this year, an increase of €70 million over 2004. In addition, further increases of €65 million have already been agreed by the Government in each of the two succeeding years to 2007. Taking these substantial increases, together with the extraordinary expression of sympathy and generosity of the Irish people to the victims of the recent disaster in Asia, it is obvious that the Government and the people are of one mind in wishing to strongly assist those who are at risk in the world today.

I intend to use the production of a White Paper as an opportunity to engage in a broad public consultation regarding the future direction of the Government's official development co-operation programme. The public, as well as NGOs and others who are familiar with the problems of the developing world, should be given every possibility of expressing their views on all aspects of our development co-operation policies. During the course of our consultation, we will seek to inform and engage the public in the work we do, not only in offering assistance in the event of natural disasters such as the Asian tsunami, but also in our bilateral country programmes in Africa and elsewhere, and in collaboration with our partners in Europe and with the United Nations and other international organisations. This consultation will lead to a White Paper, setting out coherent, effective and sustainable policy priorities for the Government's official programme of development assistance. It will also accurately reflect both public and expert opinion and meet with best practices in the field.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Minister of State accept that consultations on the UN overseas development aid target are unnecessary? Will he admit the proposal is nothing more than a cheap stalling tactic which insults people's intelligence? The public has demonstrated how fundamental the issue of international solidarity is by donating €50 million of its hard-earned cash to the tsunami relief fund, more than twice that of the Government. Will he accept that the development co-operation sector, including the umbrella organisation Dóchas and Development Co-operation Ireland, has made it crystal clear what is required to implement the overseas development aid target of 0.7% of GNP by 2007? This is the only acceptable timeframe and there is a consensus, other than on the part of the Minister of State, on this issue. Rather than delaying with the consultation process, he should be working to deliver the target endorsed by the Government.

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I disagree with every sentiment expressed by the Deputy. However, it is hardly surprising since the Deputy did not open his ears before giving his monologue.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State should cool down a little.

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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If Deputy Ó Snodaigh was listening, I indicated earlier that the consultation process is not about the 0.7% target. He has conflated two distinct issues.

The White Paper process to which his question formally relates, but his subsequent verbal content did not, is simple. It is designed to raise public awareness of the programme. It is also designed to get greater public expressions of concern as to how to progress the programme. It is a listening exercise that will enshrine certain principles in the White Paper. It mirrors what the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dick Spring, did some years ago with the White Paper on Foreign Policy.

There are certain issues where the public are entitled to express an opinion and should be brought into the picture. It is not a stalling or long-fingering tactic nor is it about the 0.7% target. I have indicated that we will not prohibit the public from contributing opinions on the issue. It is my intention, shared by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and the Taoiseach, that the timetable for achieving the 0.7% target will be put in place before we travel to New York in September for the Millennium Project Summit. It is ignoble and wrong of the Deputy opposite to suggest that the White Paper is a stalling tactic. However, it does not surprise me as the Sinn Féin Party does not believe in including the public in its calculations, as evidenced from its record over the last 30 years. I hope I have made clear our intentions in this area.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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How can the Minister of State say the public is not aware of this issue and has not expressed an opinion?

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Hear, hear.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Public contributions to the tsunami relief have exceeded what the Government has promised. The timetable for the target on overseas development aid is tied in with the White Paper. The White Paper is discussing the same issues. How can the Minister of State claim the opposite? The timetable was already agreed by the Government agency, Development Co-operation Ireland. Now the Government is turning its back on its commitments. Is the Minister of State claiming that Development Co-operation Ireland's timetable is now wrong?

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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A timetable will be put in place in advance for the Millennium Project Summit.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Yet it is already in place.

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Planned growth and expansion of the programme is required. We do not believe in unplanned growth but in achieving best value for the taxpayers' money pledged to overseas development aid.