Dáil debates

Tuesday, 17 January 2012

Priority Questions

Overseas Development Aid

2:00 pm

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 29: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific overseas development services and projects that will be affected by the €53 million reduction in the overseas development aid budget for 2012; the impact that this will have on his commitment to earmarking 0.7% of GNP for overseas development aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2484/12]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Ireland's aid programme prioritises the fight against global poverty and hunger, especially in the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The programme is central to our foreign policy and enjoys very strong cross-party support. It reflects the true values of the Irish people and our long-term interests globally. It is recognised internationally as one of the best in the world - the OECD describes the programme as "cutting edge" - and a champion in making aid more effective.

Our programme for Government contains a clear commitment to supporting the aid programme and the UN target of providing 0.7% of gross national product for official development assistance, ODA. In the recent budget the Government has acted on that commitment in spite of the unprecedented difficult economic conditions and fiscal constraints facing the country.

For 2012, the Government will provide a total of €639 million for ODA, which, on current projections, will represent more than 0.5% of GNP. Given our current economic circumstances, this allocation represents a real commitment by the Government and people of Ireland to the world's poorest people. The allocation represents a total reduction of €20 million on the projected outturn for 201. This comprises a reduction of €10 million in funding for Vote 27, international co-operation, of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and an estimated fall of €10 million in overseas development aid provided from other sources, notably as a result of an expected lower allocation of Ireland's share of the EU development co-operation budget.

We are in the process of allocating the overall budget for 2012. The slight reduction will be absorbed across the programme but we anticipate that by extending programme timeframes and adjusting disbursement schedules, the reduction will not adversely affect the programme's overall objective.

The Government remains ambitious for our aid programme, is determined it maintains and builds on its high international reputation and that it continues to build the foundations of real change, future prosperity and well-being in the lives of many of the world's poorest people.

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Is dócha go bhfuil sé ceart ag an bpointe seo comhghairdeas a ghabháil leis an Tánaiste as a bheith ceaptha mar chathaoirleach ar an OSCE, rud a tharla ón uair dheireanach a bhí seans againn na cúrsaí seo a phlé anseo. Ba mhaith liom freisin fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit nua, an Teachta Costello. Bhí ard-mhuinín againn san Aire Stáit a bhí ann roimhe. Rinne sí sár-jab. Táimid dóchasach go mbeidh an Aire Stáit nua chomh tugtha agus chomh gafa leis an ról seo is a bhí an Aire Stáit eile. Tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go geal leis an iarracht atá idir lámha aige.

One must acknowledge we are in the most dire economic circumstances. However, the Labour Party manifesto - in which Members on this side of the House took great interest - committed no further reduction in overseas development aid if it were elected to government. A further €53 million will now be reduced from the overseas development aid budget on top of the €212 million reduction since the all-time record investment of €920 million in 2008. Will the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade agree he has failed in the objective set in his manifesto? How will this reduction in expenditure, regrettable as it is, impact on the nine programme countries? Will he give us an assurance that the disaster unfolding in the Horn of Africa will not be adversely affected by this reduction in overall expenditure?

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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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.

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Minister accept it will be impossible, given this reduction, to reach the millennium goal of 0.7% of GDP by 2015? That is something he will have to review to set a new objective or does he envisage spectacular initiatives, which will be required, between now and 2015 to achieve that goal?

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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We should never say that something is impossible. The 0.7% target was set as an objective internationally. It is important that we all remain focused on that objective and make it clear that it is our intention to reach it. There is no doubt that achieving that target by 2015, given our economic circumstances, will be challenging. The immediate objective is, as far as is practicable, to maintain the programmes that we are committed to and to ensure whatever adjustment we make in our budget, as we have done this year, does not adversely affect the world's poorest people, including the commitments, as the Deputy stated, to the relief of hunger and distress on the Horn of Africa.