Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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155. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government is still committed to the UN overseas aid target of 0.7% GNI; if so, if he will provide a strategy for meeting the UN target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40715/14]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, which is at the heart of our foreign policy. Our policy on International Development, “One World, One Future” clearly sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world, together with our goals and areas of focus for the coming years. The policy reaffirms our commitment to achieving the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA), when economic circumstances permit. Since coming to office, and in the context of very difficult economic circumstances, this Government has successfully stabilised Ireland’s Official Development Assistance, including the budget for the aid programme. On Budget day last week we protected the aid budget, providing for a total allocation to ODA of just over €600 million for next year. The 2015 ODA allocation demonstrates the Government’s commitment to the aid programme and represents a very significant and generous contribution on behalf of the people of Ireland to assist those less fortunate than ourselves.

Our priority now is to ensure we continue to focus this significant level of public funding on tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice, strengthening our key partner countries ability to deliver essential services to their citizens, and delivering real and sustainable improvements to the lives of some of the world’s poorest.