Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the commitment to provide 0.7% of GNP in overseas aid by 2015 is feasible in view of the revised growth forecasts for the economy here. [8985/11]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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First, I congratulate Deputy Ó Fearghaíl on his appointment as Fianna Fáil spokesperson on foreign affairs. We worked together very closely in the Joint Committee on Health and Children.

The Government's aid programme has always had broad cross-party and public support. It reflects our values as a people, and is central to Ireland's foreign policy. The aid programme has built on years of effort by courageous individual Irish people. It is now recognised internationally for its focus on the fight against global poverty and hunger and for its leadership in making aid more effective, especially in the poorest countries in Africa.

The Government is strongly committed to Ireland's development programme and to Ireland's role internationally in helping to achieve the millennium development goals. Our programme for Government states clearly our commitment to the 0.7% GNP target, and to seeking to achieve it by 2015. This is in line with the long-standing UN target for official development assistance and with the commitment of the European Union.

It is clear that, in current circumstances, this will be a challenging target to meet. However, the Government was elected to face up to the challenges of rebuilding our society and our economy and of restoring economic growth and our international reputation. I believe we can do this without undermining our work to improve the lives of some of the world's poorest people.

The Irish people have always shown great generosity to those less fortunate than ourselves. In the current economic crisis, with pressure on domestic budgets and on international aid budgets, it is all the more important that our development programme, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs, focuses rigorously on delivering results for the poorest people. Over the coming year, we will review the 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid in order to ensure that Ireland can make the strongest possible collective contribution to the fight against global poverty and hunger.

As Minister of State responsible for development, I intend to visit a number of our programme countries in Africa over the coming months to see the difference Ireland's work is making to the lives of poor families and communities and to assess how we can strengthen our contribution, especially in the area of hunger and undernutrition.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Ba mhaith liom comhgairdeachas a ghabháil leis an Tánaiste agus leis na hAirí Stáit, na Teachtaí Jan O'Sullivan agus Lucinda Creighton, as ucht a gceapacháin. Tá mé ag súil le bheith ag comh-oibriú leo go héifeachtach san am atá romhainn.

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. She has my full support and the full support of the Fianna Fáil Party in doing everything she can to maintain Ireland's overseas aid programme, against the background of our own extremely difficult budgetary situation. I readily acknowledge the scale of the challenge that confronts herself and the Minister in that regard. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle had the privilege of serving effectively in this area for a number of years, when the State was in a position to be more flaithiúlach than we are at present, regrettably.

It is significant that we are considering this issue in the week when the Trócaire Lenten campaign nears an end, with its focus this year on development projects in Honduras. Last year, this single campaign raised almost €11 million, which is a huge achievement. Will the Minister of State join me in commending the outstanding input of Irish non-governmental agencies to the development aid process through their individual fund-raising efforts.

Forecasts for economic growth have been revised downward by the Central Bank to 0.9% growth in GDP this year and to 2.2% growth in GDP in 2012. Can the Minister of State clarify if this is significantly lower than the growth predictions on which the Irish Aid commitment in the programme for Government was based?

The programme for Government states that we will review the 2006 White Paper on overseas development aid. Can the Minister of State elaborate on what is intended in that review?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I thank Deputy Ó Fearghaíl and I acknowledge the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's contribution and that of my predecessor as Minister of State.

I agree with the Deputy regarding NGOs, and particularly Trócaire. I have already met them and Dóchas, which represents the various NGOs. They have done excellent work and continue to do so. Approximately 20% of the Irish Aid budget goes through NGOs to their work in various countries.

With regard to reaching the 0.7% target for overseas aid, the amount that has been set aside this year is the amount it is intended to spend this year. We do not know what national wealth will be in the years ahead. While we are constantly striving towards the 0.7% target, we will not know the actual amounts until we see the outcome in respect of growth. In 2010, Ireland contributed €675 million to official aid, most of it coming through Irish Aid.

I have begun the process of reviewing the 2006 White Paper. We intend to consult widely, particularly among NGOs but also among the people of Ireland. The process will take a number of months because we want genuinely to consult with the people. We expect to have completed the review process within about a year. I believe it will take that time for all of the consultations.