Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

13. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the prevalence of tied aid from various EU countries as a form of overseas development aid; his plans for Ireland to be a stronger voice in Europe on asserting that ODA be open, transparent and unconditional in view of Ireland's reputation as a country that does not put conditions on its aid programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48419/17]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland has consistently been recognized by the OECD Development Assistance Committee for the quality of our aid programme and the emphasis we place on achieving results for the poor, particularly in least developed countries. The OECD DAC has also commended Ireland for continuing its commitment to ensuring that our aid is untied, a consistent record.

The most recent analysis from the OECD does indicate that the overall share of aid that is untied dropped to 87.1% in 2014 and 83.5% in 2015 after rising for several years to a high of 89.5% in 2013.

Ireland is amongst the top performers of EU countries committed to untied aid, along with Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the UK.

We believe that untied aid contributes to more effective development assistance for people and communities that need it most and that Official Development Assistance (ODA) is most effective when it supports the development objectives that people, communities and governments prioritise. Untying aid also means that more aid is spent in developing countries themselves.

Within the OECD DAC, and at the EU, Ireland has continued to advocate for the delivery of aid which is open, transparent and unconditional to support countries own national priorities. We advocated for and welcome the agreed language in the new European Consensus for Development that commits the EU and its member states to accelerate efforts to untie aid and encourage all providers of development cooperation, including emerging economies, to do the same.

Ireland’s aid programme will continue to focus on ending extreme poverty, hunger and under nutrition by 2030 and our aid will remain untied.