Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the funding in his budget targeted at UNRWA; if the commitment given by the Government in 2007 for increased funding in 2008, 2009 and 2010 will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38455/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome this opportunity to pay tribute to the vital work being undertaken by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, in support of Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. UNRWA provides basic services to more than 4.6 million Palestinians and operates essential programmes in areas such as education and health care, relief and social services, micro-finance and the improvement of infrastructure.

Palestinian refugees represent a particularly vulnerable and marginalised group and for this reason remain a central focus of Irish Aid's programme of assistance to Palestine. In this regard, I am pleased to confirm that Ireland fully intends to honour the commitment we announced in January 2007 of providing over €11 million in support of UNRWA over the three year period between 2007 and 2009. Funding at this level will enable Ireland to become a member of UNRWA's advisory commission, which is composed of major donors and the Governments of the refugee host countries.

In 2007 and 2008, a total of €7.6 million was provided in core support to UNRWA, of which €2 million was earmarked for UNRWA activities in Lebanon. It is intended that a further €3.8 million will be provided to UNRWA in 2009. In addition to core support, a sum of €500,000 was provided to UNRWA in late 2007 to support the education sector in Gaza. This was in recognition of the particularly difficult circumstances with which refugee children in Gaza are confronted on a daily basis.

Our funding for UNRWA is a key element in Ireland's overall funding to the Palestinian people. Our funding has increased significantly in recent years, from €4.4 million in 2005 to €7.5 million last year, representing an increase of 70%. Thus far in 2008, €4.9 million has been allocated, and further disbursements are planned before the year's end.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I commend the Minister on maintaining funding for UNRWA at €11.4 million. Fine Gael would be supportive of preventing this figure from being reduced as a result of the contracting economy.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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During my visit to the Middle East in July, I met representatives of UNRWA and was impressed by their work and commitment. We intend to continue our support for the agency.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Minister agree that UNRWA's efforts among Palestinian refugees are required because of the ongoing unlawful aggression by the Israeli State against Palestinians? Israel's expansionist policies continue today, with the result that ever larger numbers of Palestinians are becoming refugees. Palestinians must pay the human cost of Israel's policies while we fork out financially for the good work being done by UNRWA.

Does the Minister agree the plight of Palestinian refugees will not be resolved until Israel feels the consequences of the occupation? Can the Minister clarify that the economic sanctions provided for in the EU-Mediterranean association agreements be implemented as a minium? This is why these sanctions were included, for where human rights were being abused and the territorial integrity of countries was not being respected.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Until there is a political settlement, the refugee problem will persist. I have had discussions with negotiators on both sides. There is acknowledgement that the refugee question is fundamental to any ultimate political resolution and the two state solution. As long as we do not have political resolution, we will need to provide comprehensive support via UNWRA to Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. It is correct to say that the settlement policy is compounding the peace process and is undermining moderate opinion within the Palestinian movement, which is seeking to devise a way forward in terms of creating systems of governance and rule of law. There have been some successes in the West Bank, Jenin and elsewhere in terms of the performance of the Palestinian Authority. Prime Minister Fayyad, in particular, has had a significant impact and this has been widely acknowledged.

The perspective of the Union for the Mediterranean is to try to develop stronger and more regular dialogue between the protagonists and between Arab countries and Israel so that eventually a better atmosphere, conducive to resolution, will be created. We have met the principals of both sides.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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A former Irish Army colleague of Deputy Timmins, John Ging, plays a crucial role in UNWRA. While it is very important, ideally UNWRA should not be necessary if the Palestinian situation had been solved. The Irishman who does such good work there says that he is facing continual blocks on the most essential medical aid, essential aid for child nutrition and plastic bags. The Israeli authorities suggest that these commodities are being used by those involved in subversive activities. Would the Minister agree that what is happening in Gaza, and the situation Mr. Ging and UNWRA are forced to work in, is little less than a siege?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I agree. I have met with Mr. Ging and he has articulated those points to me. The most basic supplies necessary for education are denied. I raised those points with the Israeli Foreign Minister at the time, Ms Livni, who undertook to investigate this to ensure it would not happen. Others in UNWRA made the point that ultimately the policy in Gaza is fuelling fundamentalism more than anything else. From our experience of conflict on this island, we know there are ways and means of creating conditions that lead people to agreement and reconciliation. It is my contention that the policies being pursued are counter-productive in terms of the security of the peoples of the region.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will confirm that the overseas development aid budget as a percentage portion of GNP will not be subject to cutbacks in the lifetime of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38450/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The programme for Government contains a commitment to the expansion of the overseas aid programme. We have set a target of spending 0.7% of gross national product, GNP, on official development assistance, ODA, by 2012. It is estimated that Ireland's spending on ODA for 2008 will reach 0.54% of GNP.

In 2009, the total allocation for ODA amounts to €891 million. The largest element of this funding — €754 million — falls under Vote 29, international co-operation, which is managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs through Irish Aid. A further estimated €137 million will be spent by other Departments and through Ireland's contribution to the EU development co-operation budget. It is estimated that the allocation of €891 million in 2009 will represent 0.56% of GNP and is a clear indication of our commitment to meet the UN target of spending 0.7% of GNP on official development assistance by 2012.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I will not dwell on this matter, which has been addressed two or three times already. We support the Government in its commitment to 0.7% of GNP and the continuation of that with regard to the sum going to aid generally. Concern appeared at the meeting of the sub-committee on overseas development today and had a wish list of three topics. Top of the list was that other European countries were not signing up to the 0.7% target as Ireland has done. In some cases, aid budgets around Europe are shrinking. Concern asked that Ireland take a lead in the EU to maintain that target and ensure that there is no further reduction in the aid budget of member states. That was the main priority.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I share the concern of the sub-committee and Deputy Deasy. We will push strongly for the maintenance of the commitment to 2015 in an EU context and to 2012 in our context. Nonetheless, pressures are coming on and it is important to maintain momentum.

In the context of the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Brown took a significant initiative in terms of instigating a summit of the UN on the millennium development goals. That was a useful opportunity to put pressure on countries to rededicate themselves to realise the objectives of those goals, which are not being realised at the speed they should be if we are to get to the ultimate timelines originally suggested.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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The Eurobarometer report of less than two years ago showed that 80% of the citizens polled did not know what the world millennium development goals were, which is a cause of great concern. The Commission's publication of three years ago examined what was aid and what was not. In the Irish case, some of the money allocated ended up as aid but in the case of many member states money had been deflected to other heads. It was not real aid. It is not a matter of the proportion of GDP but also what was covered. This is a matter of real concern. I should be reluctant to mention countries but Italy, for example, would not bear a forensic examination of what was allocated in the name of aid but was not.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I take the Deputy's point, which refers to what Deputy Deasy said. I am sure Deputy Higgins agrees that there is a role for Ireland to probe the issue more at EU level. We will certainly do so.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I am glad that the percentage of GDP is heading in the right direction. Is the Minister confident that the money set aside is spent effectively and efficiently in promoting awareness? That is the budget that Irish Aid holds. One of the criticisms levelled at aid organisations was that they spent too much on administration and self-promoting propaganda. Most organisations have addressed that and most of the money from organisations goes to tackling the source.

Last year, a sum of €250,000, which could have been spent on saving lives, rebuilding communities and addressing humanitarian issues, was spent on circulating the summary of the White Paper on Irish Aid. Only recently, €40,000 was spent on the annual report of Irish Aid. Very few people will read this and it could have been put on a website more cheaply, with the money going directly to the source for which it was intended. Does the Minister agree with the point I am making? In this era there should be more efficient and effective spending of the money directed towards Irish Aid.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The budget for Irish Aid is substantial, at over €800 million. One can argue a point in terms of an annual report or the White Paper, but we need to disseminate a message in this respect across the country.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I did not question some of the other ones which are effective——

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We are all birds of passage here. What will sustain this country's ongoing and long-term commitment to Africa and to the poorest of the poor is the generation of sufficient awareness of what we are doing domestically to inform subsequent public policy to ensure our commitment in that respect remains at the core as one of our primary objectives. I saw the annual report and I thought it was a good one compared to some other documents we get. Its pictures told a thousand stories.

One of the greatest things I have witnessed since I took up this position is the great awareness among young people of our commitment to Irish Aid. I visited a school last week where 15 young boys are going to Ghana to meet with those in a partner school there.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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They might as well do it when they can.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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They will do it any way. They are raising funds. Many schools are engaged in the WorldWise programme, which is administered by Irish Aid. That represents the future. If we can inspire our young people in that manner, it will be money well spent, provided we do it well and effectively.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As a bird of passage, I am not sure if I am a dove or a hawk — I am definitely a dove. The term "birds of passage" used by the Minister is a nice one. It must come from the Mardyke.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Is the Minister confident that we can achieve the millennium development goals within the timeframe laid down? I mean "we" in the sense of the universal we.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, in the sense of the world. I am pessimistic about achieving them. The summit that was convened in September was important to shake up and refocus people on attaining those goals. I pay contribute to the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, in that respect. He led well on that issue and continues to do so. He is a good example of an international leader who brings a global perspective to the domestic agenda. The Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen, did likewise in his capacity when Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Finance and also when he attended the summit and launched our own taskforce on hunger. It had a significant launch and demonstrates a particular commitment we can make to the overall attainment of the millennium development goals.