Results 21-40 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: The Deputy asked a number of questions. I thank him for his good wishes. I wish to put one suggestion to bed immediately. Neither naivety nor choreography led to my use of the phraseology I used when speaking about the 0.7% target during an interview with RTE on 5 October last. I said, based on my experience of financial and management issues when I was working in the private sector, that...

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: I expressed my opinion after I had studied the books and examined the percentages in the Department of Foreign Affairs. I wish to make clear that our ability to achieve the target was disturbed somewhat by the downturn in 2002 and 2003. The moneys which would have made it much easier to achieve the target were not devoted at that time. I wish to respond to the question asked by Deputy Gormley...

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: We need to try to improve the capacity of the non-governmental organisations and their organisations and staff.

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: We should increase resources at departmental level to ensure that aid is spent in a proper fashion.

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: It is not just me who has made this——

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: I have said that the Government remains committed to achieving that target. As I understand it, the Cabinet has not made a decision to the contrary. The Tánaiste and the Taoiseach have spoken about this matter over the past week. When I addressed the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs on 12 October last, I made it quite clear that the 2007 target is the focal point of the Government's activity.

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: That is the target we are trying to achieve. We will work as hard as we can, in the context of the forthcoming Estimates, to achieve the level of funding that will allow the target to be reached. I cannot make it any clearer.

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: Before I speak about aid and trade——

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: I wish to address an issue which is quite relevant. Mr. John O'Shea of GOAL has said that he would favour a smaller budget which is spent carefully to an enlarged budget which is not spent carefully. That is a very relevant point.

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: I do not refer to the comments of a Government spokesman, but of an independent source.

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: I do not have to tell the Deputy that planned growth is an issue. I think he ran an architect's practice before he was elected to this House — he is probably still involved in such areas. No increase in spending should be sanctioned by the State if we are not absolutely clear that the State is getting value for money.

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: When one speaks about the Third World——

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: ——one should consider the sort of regimes which can exist there.

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: There is huge scope for the misuse of funds in such regimes.

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: It is important that Ireland's overseas aid should be spent in a proper fashion.

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: Ireland has a very good international reputation.

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: The OECD has praised Ireland's programme twice in recent years on these precise grounds. Every country in the world does not receive such an appraisal, but Ireland has received such an accolade. The Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and I are determined to ensure that remains the case. Regarding the relationship between aid and trade——

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: I have to wait for the Deputy to ask about that issue.

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: With respect, Deputy Gormley asked about relating aid with trade.

Overseas Development Aid. (19 Oct 2004)

Conor Lenihan: The Deputy is misrepresenting me.