Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 102: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding a submission (details supplied) on Irish Aid; the actions he will take to ensure that the targets are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33118/11]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government is strongly committed to Ireland's overseas development programme, which is central to our foreign policy. It is internationally recognised as one of the best development aid programmes in the world, clearly focused on the fight against extreme poverty and hunger, and concentrated in some of the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa.

Ireland's aid programme has a rigorous focus on achieving real and sustainable results and provides strong international leadership in making aid more effective. A recent OECD review of the aid programme stated that Ireland is one of the best performing members in relation to aid effectiveness. This is a very important independent validation of our aid programme.

We were elected to restore growth to the Irish economy and rebuild our international reputation on the world stage. Despite steady progress, we continue to face considerable challenges in ensuring that our public finances are put back on a sound and sustainable footing. However, as I previously stated, despite our current difficulties, we are not willing to turn our back on the world's poor and marginalised.

The Programme for Government underlines our commitment to Ireland's development programme and the UN target of spending 0.7% of GNP on Overseas Development Assistance (ODA). We remain focussed on this 0.7% target and we will continue to work towards its attainment.