Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ensure that Ireland meets its commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national product on overseas aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42171/12]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland’s aid programme prioritises the fight against global poverty and hunger. Every day it saves lives and builds capacity for the future. The programme is central to our foreign policy, enjoys strong support across the political spectrum and has an enviable international reputation.It reflects the values of the Irish people and is strongly supported by the public. This is clearly evident by the level of support for the programme expressed at the public consultations held earlier this year for the upcoming new White Paper on Irish Aid, and further reinforced by a recent opinion poll commissioned by Dóchas, the umbrella organisation for development NGOs. Our Programme for Government has a clear commitment to supporting the aid programme, and to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA). As recently as last week in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Eamonn Gilmore TD clearly stated that we have maintained our ODA above 0.5% of GNP - an important achievement in the face of major economic difficulties - and also confirmed our commitment to reaching the 0.7% UN target as soon as we possibly can.

Ireland’s aid programme represents a genuine investment by the Irish people in the world we share with the people of developing countries. We focus in particular on the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. We have prioritised investments in education, in health, in good governance, in the lives and the rights of girls and women, and of those living with HIV and AIDS.We have seen remarkable economic progress made in African countries as a result of such investments. But great inequalities still persist.

The Government remains ambitious for, and committed to, the aid programme. We are determined to maintain and build on its high international reputation, and to ensure that it continues to build the foundation of real change, future prosperity and wellbeing in the lives of many of the world’s poorest people.