John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the effect the global credit crisis is having on Ireland's development aid programme countries; and the practical steps he will take to assist those programme countries overcoming the effects of this global crisis. [38475/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's development aid Programme Countries are some of the poorest in the world. In recent years many of them have demonstrated slow but steady progress, both economically and socially. This progress, despite enormous and continuing challenges, is the result of new and stronger partnerships between international donors, such as Ireland, and developing country governments. These partnerships are driven by the overall objective of achieving the Millennium Development Goals. These Goals set specific targets for the reduction of poverty by 2015.

I am concerned that the global credit crisis may undermine international commitments to provide resources to meet the Millennium Development Goals and thus set back efforts to help the poorest of the poor, including those in Ireland's Programme Countries. I am equally concerned at the effect of the rise in the price of food and the lingering effects of recent oil price fluctuations.

To overcome the effects of the global credit crisis in our Programme Countries we will continue to focus on what has been shown to work. Our aim is poverty reduction through building the capacity to deliver basic services, encouraging policies to foster equitable economic growth, building the institutions of good governance and working with other donors and developing country governments to ensure commitments are met and that resources are well managed and give value for money.

We will also adapt our aid programmes in specific countries to meet local and national needs in the light of the credit crisis. For example, in Malawi, we are orienting our programme to meet the needs of rural people through interventions in the areas of agriculture and food security. This is an example of Ireland's flexibility in relation to our aid programme. We will continue to work closely with our Programme Country partner governments to meet emerging needs.

The global credit crisis must not allow the Millennium Development Goals to lose their centrality in the international agenda. They remain very central to our aid objectives. In 2008, I expect ODA expenditure to amount to 0.54% of GNP. We are the world's sixth most generous aid donor in terms of GNP. This demonstrates Ireland's commitment to play our part in progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.