Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Seanad for arranging this debate and for inviting me to address the House. I have spent some time here during other debates. It was said by the Leader and others that this Chamber has its own unique character. I agree with that because such debates are conducted less acrimoniously and it is useful parliamentary work. I thank Members for the all-party support for increasing the budget, which I will speak about later.

The programme of assistance to developing countries has received a strongly favourable review from the member states of the OECD Development Assistance Committee. It took many hands over a considerable period to build the programme which drew many plaudits in Paris last week. On their behalf, I accept the favour implicit in this motion and I thank the Members for the strong support it demonstrates.

I welcome the opportunity to explain some of the elements of the programme which have attracted such a positive assessment. However, I agree that we must continue to do better and maintain a professional and effective approach. While the public may not know every detail of the official programme, there is evidence of strong support for the concept of providing assistance to poorer countries. Our own folk history of famine, the path-finding role of our missionaries and the current positive profile of NGOs have all created a public sense of understanding for the underdog in development terms, for those whose starting point, by virtue of disease, deprivation and history, is so far behind as to make the process of catching up all but impossible.

As the DAC concluded last week in Paris, and as will be shown when its printed report appears next month, the Irish programme of development assistance is a strong one. Through its focus on capacity building and partnerships and its adherence to the best practices in development policy, the Irish programme, by the judgment of its peers, is strong and has a reputation for high quality aid. While aid includes responding compassionately to emergencies such as Liberia, for example, it is especially about addressing long term development needs, the slow building of the capacity which enables poorer countries to help themselves, and sustainable development.