Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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5. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how he will reach the United Nations target of 0.7% of gross national product for overseas development assistance as per the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12238/16]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Tá mé ag súil go mór leis an obair atá romhainn maidir le cúrsaí forbartha idirnáisiúnta agus cúrsaí diaspóra. Tá mé ag súil go mór freisin le bheith ag obair le chéile le mo chomhghleacaithe ar an taobh seo den Teach agus le mo chomhghleacaithe éagsúla i dTeach Laighean. Ar nóta pearsanta, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta O'Brien mar ag an am a tháinig mé isteach i bpost Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta fuair mé cuidiú mór uaidh agus spreagadh freisin. Bhí mé fíorbhuíoch de mar bhí mé faoi bhrú agus bhí mé sa choirnéal.

I will give this English language a go now. The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme and to its place at the heart of Ireland's foreign policy. The Government has restated this clearly in the programme for Government. The Government's policy for international development, One World, One Future, articulates clearly its commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of gross national product, GNP, as official development assistance, ODA. The programme for Government sets out the Government's ambition to make progress towards the UN target as resources permit. It is important that such progress be made in a sustainable and manageable way that strengthens Ireland's recognised role as a reliable and effective partner in providing humanitarian assistance and contributing to the fight to end global poverty and hunger.

Since 2011, Ireland has provided more than €3.8 billion in ODA. This has involved significant annual contributions in excess of €600 million at a time of great economic difficulty. Over this time, the Taoiseach and Ministers have stated consistently that we would make progress towards the 0.7% target once economic conditions allow.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit agus ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis arís. Obviously, the target of 0.7% of gross national product for ODA was set in 2000 and for various reasons, some of which were valid, successive Governments have never achieved that target. My issue with regard to the programme for partnership Government is that it does not set out any type of roadmap to achieve this but merely states: "We will continue to make progress towards achieving the UN target of 0.7% of gross national product for ODA." In budget 2016, a total of €640 million is provided for official development aid assistance. This represents a small increase of approximately €40 million, which will bring the amount up to approximately 0.36%, and we are way behind the curve in this regard. As a Parliament and as a Government, we should commit to this target. It is a good thing to do and it is appropriate, morally right and just to so do. I ask the Minister of State to outline in greater detail how it is intended to move towards that target over the term of the Government.

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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It is a major challenge in terms of financial resources to get to the 0.7% target. Moreover, as GDP widens, that percentage also narrows and consequently there are challenges in this regard. In this new era of new politics and new co-operation, I am open to working with Members to try to work out a way of moving towards this benchmark because it is an area of such great importance. Even during the period since 2011, some €3.8 billion has been spent in overseas aid on important work at both humanitarian and development levels. At what is a very early stage in this job, I have found that new methods of best practice are being introduced to try to draw a more effective linkage between humanitarian and development aid. Moreover, Ireland is perceived to be a world leader in this regard. At the humanitarian summit in Istanbul in recent days, it was obvious that the world is looking to Ireland for ways to try to make progress in this regard. I am open to ideas and to working with the Deputy on a more coherent roadmap to achieve the target.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I am open to working with the Minister of State on this issue and in the context of the forthcoming budget and the new budgetary process to be put in place in the Dáil, it is incumbent on all parties and Independents to work towards and to make commitments on improving Ireland's standing in this regard. The Minister of State is correct that our international standing is good but we are well short of the target Members from all sides have set for Ireland and have agreed to achieve. I note the dreaded phrase that is used, the fiscal space for budget 2017, could be in the region of €900 million and Members must work together to ascertain what elements of that can be used appropriately towards ODA and to increasing Ireland's level of contribution. Finally, it might be useful for Members on this side of the House were the Minister of State to arrange a briefing for them with Irish Aid in order that Members can work together in a co-operative and collegiate way to achieve the nation's goals in this regard.

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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That absolutely can be organised.