Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome this morning's contribution from the Governor of the Central Bank. Let us hope that once the relevant representatives become involved, politics will be removed from the equation. Let us now engage in real discussion and positive thinking. This is a great country and the Irish are a race of fighters. We are not going to go down. People should not engage in the type of destructive criticism which appears to be in vogue at present. Let us remove politics from the mix and get the country back to a point where it is running properly.

I support Senator Hannigan's point in respect of overseas development assistance, ODA. At the United Nations summit in September, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, made a commitment in respect of reaching the target of devoting 0.7% of GDP to ODA by 2015. Certain commentators will state that charity begins at home. Nevertheless, we made a commitment in respect of our contribution to ODA. I hope that this commitment will be honoured and that the various aid agencies involved will examine the position and rationalise their operations. I will be pressing the Minister to adhere to the commitment to reach the 0.7% target by 2015.