Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Renua Ireland)
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355. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to increase the overseas aid budget to 0.7% of Gross National Product; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35609/15]

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 month, at the Summit to adopt the new framework for global development, the 2030 Agenda. Ireland played an important role in the negotiation of the framework, and also in helping broker agreement within the EU to recommit to achieving the 0.7% target within the timeframe of the 2030 Agenda.

Today, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will announce the 2016 allocation for Official Development Assistance. Our priority for next year will be to ensure we continue to sharply focus those resources to meet our commitment in the fight against poverty and hunger in some of the poorest countries in the world, and to respond generously to the unprecedented level of humanitarian need worldwide, especially in Africa and the Middle East.