Through our concentrated focus on both multilateral and bilateral assistance, Ireland Aid has earned an enviable international reputation as a quality aid programme. This quality has been attested to by the OECD's peer review process. The last review, undertaken in 1999, concluded that the focused nature of the programme constitutes one of its major strengths. It found that the programme had a sound policy basis and concluded that Irish Aid, as the programme was then known, was a strong performer in putting a partnership approach into practice, especially in programme countries. The review also made a number of focused recommendations concerning future growth of the programme and how this should he managed. I am satisfied that we have made good progress in these areas and that the next peer review, which will take place in 2003, will again attest to the impact and value of our aid programme.