Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 779: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support a matter (details supplied). [30268/09]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 780: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the position regarding overseas aid; if he will reach the target of spending 0.7% of GNI on overseas aid by 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30468/09]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 782: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support a matter (details supplied). [30718/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 779, 780 and 782 together.

Ireland spent €920 million on Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2008. This represents approximately 0.59 % of our Gross National Product (GNP) and makes Ireland one of the most generous donors in the world on a per capita basis. This is an enormous achievement of which we should all be justifiably proud. For 2009 the total budget for ODA is expected to reach €696 million which, on current projections, will represent at least 0.48% of Ireland's GNP.

The Government very much regrets it has been necessary to reduce the ODA budget for 2009. As with all budget cuts across Government Departments, our sole objective is to ensure the stabilisation of the Public Finances. This is a requirement for the resumption of economic growth, which is the only sustainable way Ireland can meet its future ODA commitments.

The ODA budget for this year of €696 million will likely leave Ireland as the sixth largest aid donor internationally, in per capita terms. It will now be more difficult to achieve the Government's target of spending 0.7% of GNP on ODA by 2012. However, the Government continues to work towards the target and will make a full assessment of our capacity to achieve it in the context of the preparation of the 2010 Budget. It is important to note that Ireland is still significantly ahead of all but a few EU Member States in making progress towards achieving the broad EU 0.7% target in 2015.

The decisions which have been taken to adjust the programme have been framed in the context of Ireland's firm commitment to the world's poorest and our determination that, once the Irish economy has returned to a pattern of sustainable growth, we will resume the expansion of our aid programme. Ireland's programme of development assistance is renowned internationally for its quality and clear focus on the reduction of poverty and hunger, and on the least developed countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The Government is determined, now more than ever, that the programme will maintain this focus and will continue to make a positive and lasting difference to millions of poor people, especially in Africa.