asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the policy decisions arising from the cutback from £10 million in 1988 to £9 million in 1989 in the Estimates for bilateral aid under the Overseas Development Assistance Programme.
28.
Written Answers. - Bilateral Aid.
26.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is his intention to eliminate completely the grant-in-aid for bilateral and other aid contributions for developing countries, in view of the cumulative reduction in the Government's contribution to that fund of almost £5 million or 40 per cent in the last two published Estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
42.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's view of the importance of Ireland's bilateral aid programme; and the plans, if any, the Government has for its future development.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 28 and 42 together.
Government policy remains one of commitment to the maintenance and expansion of official development assistance as soon as economic circumstances permit. The funds available in 1989 will allow us to meet all our commitments both multilateral and bilateral.
There is no intention on the Government's part to eliminate the grant-in-aid fund for bilateral or other aid contributions for developing countries. The Government considers bilateral assistance an important and effective means of channelling aid to developing countries. The amount provided for bilateral aid this year is not only sufficient to meet all our commitments but in addition sufficient to maintain the basic framework for expansion when economic circumstances permit us to do so.