Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I endorse Senator Ryan's comments on overseas development aid. Given the important nature of the initiative and the statements of the new Minister of State, I am sure the Leader would agree that it would be useful to invite the Minister to the House for a debate on overseas development aid, especially in light of the forthcoming budget.

Senator Ryan and I would agree on many issues in this area and I greatly respect his views. However, it seems that the Minister's statements are being distorted to a great degree. He said he intended to push for a multi-annual envelope as part of the Estimates debate. I have no doubt he will succeed in that and there will be a return to multi-annual spending which was absent for a number of years primarily owing to the economic downturn.

It must be remembered by the House that the Taoiseach's statement was made 12 months before the events of 11 September 2001 which had economic implications and worldwide repercussions. I do not for one moment suggest that there will be any reneging on this issue, but that the Minister of State has injected a note of economic realism into the debate. He has welcomed the cross-party support he received at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday. I am not sure whether Senator Ryan was present, but he made his position quite clear.

This is an extremely important issue for this country in terms of its image. I agree with the comments that we do not do war, we do peace and we do it very well and that we do human rights and do them very well. This country has an obligation to maintain its commitments to the Third World. I am confident the Minister of State will deliver on these important commitments. However, I ask once again that the Leader give serious consideration to having an early debate on overseas development aid and this country's enormous contribution to improving the lot of people in the Third World.