Seanad debates

Wednesday, 26 November 2003

Overseas Development Aid: Motion.

 

As Senators know, we are committed to reaching the United Nations aid target of 0.7% of GNP. Obviously the slowdown in economic growth and its impact on tax revenues has affected all Government services, including the aid programme, which this year will remain at 0.41% of GNP. I acknowledge that it will be difficult to maintain momentum, but the commitment stands, and as the tightness in public finances eases with the growth of the economy, I will be pressing to re-establish momentum. I thank Senators for their support in this matter. I work in partnership with NGOs and the cross-party support I have received tonight is appreciated. It must be acknowledged that the debate on this occasion was tough for everybody who wanted to increase his or her budget. We have seen from the debate in the last week on other domestic and political issues that there are pressures everywhere.

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