Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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126. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the precise timeline to which the Government plans to achieve the target of 0.7% of gross domestic product spending on overseas development assistance, following comments made by An Taoiseach to that effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36845/15]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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“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). The Taoiseach repeated the commitment when he addressed the United Nations in New York in September at the Summit to adopt the new framework for global development, the 2030 Agenda.

We have consistently and very clearly stated that once economic conditions permit we would make further progress on meeting our commitment to the UN target. As our economic recovery strengthens and consolidates we are now in a position to start delivering on that commitment.

Last month the Government announced the first substantial increase in the aid budget in over seven years. For 2016, we have provided a total of over €640 million in ODA, an increase of €40 million, or almost 7% on the 2015 level. This is both a substantial allocation of public funding to ODA and a significant increase on last year’s level. It also represents a clear demonstration of our determination to make good on our commitments to the aid programme.

Ireland played a leading role this year in brokering an agreement among EU Development Ministers to collectively reach the 0.7% target by 2030. Over the coming years we will continue to make sustainable progress towards the UN target in line with this wider agreement with EU member states.