Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 20: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the review and public consultation of the White Paper on Irish Aid; if he believes that the final conclusions of the review will lead to significant policy changes; if legislation is envisaged as a result of this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33493/12]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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The 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid set out clearly the basis and the priorities for Ireland's official aid programme, which is working on behalf of the Irish people to improve the lives of the world's poorest people. The programme is recognised internationally for its sharp focus on poverty and hunger, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, for its partnership approach, and for its leadership in making aid more effective.

The Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid is one of the commitments contained in the Programme for Government. We wanted to carry out such a Review to examine the progress being made in our aid programme, to assess the changed context globally and domestically, and to set out our priorities for the years ahead, as the international community considers the framework for international development after 2015, the target date for the Millennium Development Goals.

A very vibrant public consultation was undertaken for the Review between February and April of this year. It was overseen by the independent Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group and involved over 1,000 people in Ireland and in our partner countries, including members of civil society, the private sector, and representatives the new communities living in Ireland. Through the use of social media, we reached out to a wider audience. I am glad to report that 165 written submissions were received. We also undertook consultation across Government Departments and in the Houses of the Oireachtas. It was encouraging to see so many Members of the Oireachtas participate in these consultations. In particular I would like to acknowledge the written responses that we received from the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs, and others.

I am not yet in a position to indicate what policy changes or implications will emerge from the Review of the White Paper, as we are still in the process of considering the submissions that have been made and the other information that we have gathered. It is my intention that the Report on the Review