Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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203. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals he has to reach 0.7% gross national product as overseas development aid funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33916/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, which is at the heart of our foreign policy. “One World, One Future” our policy for international development, sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world, and reaffirms our commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) on Official Development Assistance (ODA). We have stated clearly that we intend to make further progress on this commitment as our economic recovery consolidates. The Taoiseach repeated the commitment when he addressed the United Nations in New York last week at the Summit to adopt the new framework for global development, the 2030 Agenda. Ireland played an important role in ensuring that the EU recommitted to achieving the 0.7% target within the timeframe of the 2030 Agenda.

Over the lifetime of this Government, despite the severe economic difficulty we have faced, we have successfully managed to stabilise allocations to the aid programme. Since coming to office we have allocated in excess of €3 billion for Ireland’s Official Development Assistance programme.

We are currently at an advanced stage of the 2016 Estimates process. While final allocations for Budget 2016 are ultimately a matter for Government, I can assure the Deputy that I am making the strongest possible case for an increase in the allocation to Official Development Assistance.