Derek McDowell (Labour)

I endorse the sentiments expressed by the leader of the Fine Gael group. We look forward to the debate on the first-time house buyer's grant this evening. I agree also that it is probably the most eye catching and headline catching of a number of very serious cuts.

One issue to which we should direct our attention, on which I ask the Leader to organise a debate, is the effect of freezing overseas development aid. We all recall that the former Minister of State with responsibility for overseas aid, Deputy O'Donnell, negotiated a multiannual deal with the Department of Finance, very much contrary to its instincts and what it wanted, which would have effectively seen us meeting the UN target by 2007. Scarcely was the door closed on Deputy O'Donnell than her successor began to reduce the budget, notwithstanding the hypocritical remarks of the Taoiseach in Johannesburg a few weeks later. This would be an appropriate time for us to take stock of where we are and, more importantly, where we are going in regard to our overseas commitments.