Vol. 418 No. 5
6 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the percentage of GNP given by Ireland as official development aid in (a) 1981, (b) 1983, (c) 1986, (d) 1991 and (e) 1992; and if he will make a statement on his intentions for spending in view of the threat of starvation for 23 million in the Horn of Africa.
19 Dr. McDaid asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider the reestablishment of the Advisory Committee on Development Co-operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
112 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has any plans to re-establish the advisory council on development co-operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 6, 19 and 112 together. The percentage of GNP given by Ireland as official development aid in the years referred to are as follows:
|
1981 |
0.18% |
|
1983 |
0.22% |
|
1986 |
0.25% |
|
1991 |
0.19% |
Our present estimated expenditure on ODA in 1992 will amount to about 0.17 per cent of GNP.
The revised Programme for Government of October 1991 commits the Government to a planned programme of increases in Ireland's Official Development Assistance, 1992-94, so as to achieve a higher ODA-GNP contribution by the end of that period. In addition we have a longstanding commitment to the UN target for expenditure on Official Development Assistance of 0.7 per cent of GNP.
Clearly we are still well short of the UN target and I am anxious that we should make steady progress towards improving our performance. The public have been very generous with their voluntary contributions to organisations helping in the Third World, and I believe that the Government should also be as generous as they can.
The Government are very concerned about the serious situation in the Horn of Africa. The problems caused by the drought in southern Africa are also very worrying. It has been decided to make an immediate allocation of £300,000 from the disaster relief fund to help these two regions.
The Government decision of December 1990 abolishing the Advisory Council on Development Co-operation with effect from the end of 1991 also provided for the establishment of an informal committee to advise on development aid policy. I am at present considering how best to give effect to this aspect of the Government decision.
May I thank the Minister for his reply and compliment him on his personal commitment in this area? The Minister said the revised Programme for Government commits the Government to a planned programme of increases in Ireland's official development assistance from 1992-94. Is he now going to fulfil that commitment by increasing the budget during 1992 by perhaps bringing in a Supplementary Estimate? Official development aid has been reducing since 1986 and now stands at the lowest percentage rate of GNP in any of the European OECD countries. I know the Minister would not like to preside over that record, but is he prepared to make more money available from his own budget?
The budgetary provisions in the Estimates have already been completed for 1992 and it really would be a matter for me to go to Cabinet with the Deputy's suggestion. I certainly have no objection to doing that. Like Members in this House, I believe it is unfortunate that the percentage of aid in terms of GNP has been reducing.
It would be one of my main achievements as Minister for Foreign Affairs if I could ensure that was increased either this year or next year. To be absolutely frank, however, I do not think it can be increased this year.
There is £1 million in the disaster relief budget. Can the Minister assure the House that he will release that money as quickly as possible to alleviate the suffering of 23 million people in the Horn of Africa? I know there are applications before the Minister at this time, and I am asking him to deal with them instantly.
I certainly appreciate the Deputy's concern for the position in the Horn of Africa. It is a shocking situation and both the Government and I share her concern. I will have the question of the £1 million which may be located in the relief fund investigated.
