I would like to be free to finish what I have to say. I do not mind being interrupted. I am well able for that, particularly when it comes to the development area. I have been at it for a much longer time than some of the people present. I will give notice now of the motion for the next meeting. In the meantime it would help contributions to the debate if those who are not familiar read the minutes of the previous meetings.
The figures for ODA with which we are presented are almost a fact, but we have a window of opportunity between now and the budget to repeat our unanimous request that we should seek to achieve the commitment made on behalf of the people of Ireland at the United Nations in September 2000 and repeated as late as the 58th General Assembly in September 2003 and represented in all Government programmes and in the partnership agreements. In view of the implications of the breaking of those agreements and undertakings given, I think we should make a further suggestion between now and budget day to the Minister for Finance seeking that he should put the programme back on track.
There further difficulties that arise. There was a comprehensive survey of the entire set of issues involved in development made for the advisory committee on development co-operation. We have to ask the question in relation to the briefing note what issues beyond those covered by that consideration would be covered in a White Paper. We certainly should debate here the terms of reference of any White Paper.
The second issue which I find very disturbing is the opening up of an old argument on the relevance of expenditure by NGOs on advocacy. The spending of money on advocacy is incredibly important, as we heard from different delegations, from coffee pickers and others in Guatemala, for instance, who simply wanted to be assisted to establish their trade unions, co-operatives and so on. That is very important work.
Another matter we should consider is a review of progress towards the achievement of the eight millennium goals which were discussed in Johannesburg in terms of pledges. The European Commission is compiling a report on behalf of member countries on where they stand in relation to those commitments. We should discuss those issues.
I do not purport to speak for anyone else. I am personally devastated by having to take up again the argument for meeting the 0.7% target. We actually asked other countries to seek to achieve it and that has been done by five countries. Sweden has revised its target to 1%. If the Government had said that the target would be met one or two years late, we would have accepted it to some extent as being something very meaningful. The problem regarding what is being projected now is that when the commitment was made in September 2000 for achievement in 2007, the mid-term figure was 0.45%. We hit 0.41%. The Government is suggesting we will hit 0.5% in 2007 but most of the calculations we have seen are coming in at around .45% or less. We can discuss it more substantively when it is on the agenda, perhaps at our next meeting.
