Brendan Ryan (Labour)

There was some controversy in the House about overseas development aid. We had a promise in 2000 that became a promise in 2002, which was withdrawn last week, to be replaced by a new promise to the effect that a revised target of 0.5% of GDP would be reached by 2007. It is now clear from the budget and from the Estimates for the future that this target will not be met. What is the real situation about promises such as this? Another one was made yesterday, that the super-rich who pay no tax had better watch out because next year the Taoiseach is coming to get them. Is this a real promise or is it like the one he made and broke twice to the poor of the world?