Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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47. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the commitments under the programme for Government for which his Department is responsible; the progress made to date with regard to each commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32396/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to the Annual Report on the Programme for Government and the related statements in the Dáil in March which set out the progress on an extensive number of the Department’s commitments. These include increasing exports, promoting Ireland abroad, overseas development aid, humanitarian crises response, civilian corps, implementing the Good Friday Agreement and St. Andrew’s Agreement, economic co-operation to support jobs, review of the North- South bodies and Ireland’s Presidency of the EU. In terms of the crucial priority of economic recovery, we have achieved very significant progress in restoring Ireland’s international reputation through our continued emphasis on economic diplomacy. My Department and our Embassy network, working closely with the State agencies, use every opportunity to highlight Ireland’s economic strengths and potential to international audiences. The impact of this work is clear. Ireland’s successful implementation of, and exit from, the EU IMF bailout without a precautionary credit line was successfully communicated in international media, to policy-makers, and contacts worldwide via the Embassy network. In June, the yields on Irish 10 year bonds reached historic lows and the ratings agency Standard and Poors upgraded Ireland to an A rating in June. A number of international business rankings also reflect the positively changed analysis of the Irish economy: e.g. Ireland has moved from 47^thplace globally in 2011 to 3^rdin 2014 in the influential IMD World Competitiveness Rankings and Forbes magazine has named Ireland the Best Country in the World to do Business. International media coverage and commentary, while reflecting ongoing domestic and international economic challenges, is notably more positive on Ireland’s achievements and prospects than at the time of the formation of the Government. Export levels are now higher than they were before the economic crisis. Net job creation from inward investment and by our small and medium sized exporting companies was higher in 2013 than it has been for ten years.

We are also following up on the implementation of the recommendations in the Government Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy to actively develop cultural and diplomatic links with emerging markets. In February 2014 my Department published a short, focused review of the Strategy, adding an additional seven ‘Exploratory and High Potential Markets’ and in January 2014 we announced that five new Embassies and three new Consulates General will be opened in key locations across South East Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. These Embassies and Consulates will provide a platform for further promotion of Irish exports, investment, tourism and education. The implementation of the Strategy will continue to be overseen by the Export Trade Council whose role is to strengthen cooperation and coordination across all Government Departments and State agencies involved in the international promotion and development of trade, tourism and investment.

In relation to Northern Ireland, the Government’s approach is guided by the principles and values of the Good Friday Agreement and its related Agreements, which are essential to peace and reconciliation in Ireland and across these islands. Their key elements include partnership government in Northern Ireland; agreement on sovereignty; human rights; parity of esteem; and support for the rule of law. The continued shared responsibility of the two governments is to guarantee these principles and to support the implementation of the Agreements. The Irish Government is determined to realise their full potential.

Against that background, we continue to work intensively with the parties in the Executive and with the British Government in support of an agreement on a comprehensive and balanced framework for dealing with parades, flags and contending with the past. British-Irish relations, already strong, have benefitted further from the recent State Visit by President Higgins to the United Kingdom. We will work to ensure that all opportunities for North South and East West cooperation are harnessed in support of job creation and economic growth on the island.

At its Plenary meeting in November 2013, the North South Ministerial Council agreed to focus on new priorities for practical economic cooperation that can help economic recovery, job creation, the optimal use of public money and the most effective delivery of public services. Ministers have been examining opportunities in this area for the past six months with their Northern Ireland counterparts and there will be a further discussion on this at the next Plenary of the North South Ministerial Council.

Despite the very severe economic and budgetary situation we have faced, the Government has clearly demonstrated its determination since coming into office to maintain and stabilise the budget for Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the maximum possible extent. In the three years 2011 through 2013, a total of over €1.9 billion has been provided for ODA. This is an enormous achievement in the circumstances. For 2014, the Government has again managed to allocate almost €600 million to ODA, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to helping the poor of the world. Our new policy clearly states that the Government remains committed to the UN target of providing 0.7% of GNP in ODA, and to making further progress towards achieving it as soon as economic circumstances permit.