Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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683. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has undertaken a review into the way in which Ireland allocates its ODA to multilateral organisations in view of the Government's announcement that it expects its annual contribution to a bank (details supplied) to count towards its overseas development assistance (ODA), the impact of such allocations and his plans to improve accountability and transparency in this regard; if so, the outcomes of such a review; and if not, if his department will undertake such a review. [27114/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. My Department is committed to the provision of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the most effective way, providing humanitarian assistance and contributing to the fight to end global poverty and hunger, including through working with multilateral partners. Funding to and through multilateral organisations is kept under regular review by the Department, to ensure that it is provided to partners which can contribute most effectively to delivering the priorities of our foreign policy and our development policy, as set out in the Global Islandand in One World, One Future, and to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. Ireland is currently a member of several Multilateral Development Banks, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.Multilateral Development Banks are important contributors to economic and social development, and membership is valuable in building inter-regional relations and contributing to development results in the fight against global poverty and hunger.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) came into operation in January 2016 and aims to foster economic development and regional integration in Asia, primarily through investment in infrastructure. Ireland’s application for membership of the AIIB, which was primarily a matter for the Minister for Finance, was accepted on 23 March 2017, and is seen as a means of both strengthening our ties with the fast-growing Asia region and contributing to its sustainable development. We hope that Ireland will join the Bank in the near future subject to the passage of the necessary domestic legislation.

The Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD is the body with responsibility for granting eligibility for Official Development Assistance (ODA) to countries and International Financial Institutions. While it remains to be formally decided whether the AIIB will be declared by the OECD as being eligible for ODA, indications are positive that the AIIB, or certain activities of the AIIB, will be deemed to be so. In December 2016, the DAC Secretariat recommended that the AIIB be included on its list. It is likely that a coefficient will be agreed, which will determine how much of the contributions to the AIIB will count toward ODA.

The President of the AIIB, Mr. Jin Liqun, visited Dublin in January 2017 to deliver a keynote address at the European Financial Forum. During his visit, President Jin met with then Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny, T.D., then Minister for Finance, Mr. Michael Noonan, T.D and then Minister for State for the Diaspora and International Development, Mr. Joe McHugh, T.D. At these meetings, the role of the Bank, Ireland’s development programme and ways to identify areas for possible future cooperation were discussed.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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684. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland met the UN target of spending at least 0.15% of its gross national income on overseas development assistance to less development countries in 2015 and 2016; and if it is expected to reach this target in 2017 and 2018. [27115/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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This Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. We are proud of its international reputation, with its sharp focus on reducing poverty, eradicating hunger and responding effectively to humanitarian crises. The geographic focus of the programme is on Sub-Saharan Africa, where we work with the poorest communities, particularly in our key partner countries. We are delivering real and sustainable improvements to the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people in the areas of basic health, education, agriculture, and food production. Each year the OECD Development Assistance Committee publishes detailed statistical information for each country’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) flows to developing countries. For 2015, the most recent year for which comprehensive figures were published, the OECD estimate that almost 50% of Ireland’s total ODA was directed to least developed countries. This amounts to just over 0.15 % of Gross National Income, ensuring Ireland met the UN target. Ireland is playing a leading role internationally in focusing on the needs and role of the least developed countries. Final figures for 2016 will be published by the OECD later this year. Based on current indications and the increased level of overall spending on ODA in 2016, I am confident Ireland will again meet this target.