Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I asked for a debate on overseas aid and proposed cuts yesterday. I was not present for the Leader's reply but I gather there will be a debate. I draw the attention of the House to a report that Ireland will almost certainly miss its commitment to spend 0.6% of national income on overseas aid by 2010. Our target was to contribute 0.7% of gross national product to overseas aid by 2012 and because of swingeing cuts in overseas aid budget, we have gone from 0.58% to 0.48%. We are going in the wrong direction.

It is regrettable we are joining the laggers when the Netherlands will meet its 2010 target of 0.56% and the UK, Spain and Luxembourg are likely to do so. Mr. Gordon Brown gave a commitment that Britain would reach 0.7% by 2013. Having commended ourselves and taken the international stage to extol our virtue by setting this commitment of 0.7% by 2012, we have lost the initiative and are moving in the wrong direction while other countries remain idealistic and make commitments. I hope this is a matter we can flesh out in the debate on overseas aid and take a new direction.