Seán Ryan
Question:46 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he proposes to increase our development aid to the recommended UN percentage of GNP, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:90 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the proposals, if any, he has to reassess the 1992 Overseas Development Aid budget of his Department with a view to increasing the budget in order to fulfil the commitment given in the Programme for Government agreed in November 1991 which promised an increase in ODA in the years 1992 to 1994.
Nora Owen
Question:102 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals he has to reassess the 1992 Overseas Development Aid budget of his Department with a view to increasing the budget in order to fulfil the commitment given in the Programme for Government agreed in November 1991 which promised an increase on Overseas Development Aid in the years 1992 to 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 46, 90 and 102 together.
The revised Programme for Government states: "The Government will undertake a planned programme of increases in Ireland's Official Development Assistance, 1992-1994, so as to achieve a higher ODA/GNP contribution by the end of that period." In addition there is the long standing UN target for expenditure on Official Development Assistance of 0.7 per cent of GNP.
On present estimates expenditure on ODA will amount to about 0.17 per cent of GNP this year, a drop from 0.19 per cent in 1991. Clearly we are still well short of the UN target. I am anxious that we should make steady progress towards improving our performance.
The public have been very generous with their contributions to organisations helping in the Third World, and I believe that the Government also should be as generous as they can.