Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 July 2018
166. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in the context of budget 2019, he will in line with a campaign (details supplied) be spending 0.7% of GNI on overseas development aid by 2025 enabling Ireland to meet the UN sustainable development goal target of ending extreme poverty by the year 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29477/18]
View answerIn June 2018 the Taoiseach launched Global Ireland, a plan to double Ireland’s Global Footprint by 2025. It commits the Government to publishing a White Paper on Ireland’s International Development in 2018. Our ambition in the White Paper will be to position Ireland to continue to play a leadership role in achieving a better world, including through the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In Global Ireland, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to making incremental, sustainable progress towards achieving the UN target of allocating 0.7% of Gross National come to Official Development Assistance (ODA) by 2030. To achieve this will involve substantial increases to the ODA budget. For 2018, the Government has allocated €707 million for ODA. €707 million represents a very significant investment of public funds by the Government in Ireland predicated on a policy of prudent financial management, a spirit of partnership, and a culture of results. Around 70% of Irish ODA is managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with the remainder provided and managed by other government departments.
Increasing the ODA budget needs to be undertaken in a phased manner taking into consideration the capacity required across Government to manage and deliver a quality aid programme. The process requires careful planning and consultation with other Government Departments and stakeholders.
Ireland’s new International Development Policy currently being developed will provide the framework for ODA budget allocations. The process to develop this new policy is being led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in close consultation with the rest of Government. The new policy will continue to reflect the whole of Government effort on international development and ensure coherence domestically and internationally.
Internal preparations and analysis are already well under way including consultation across Government. The consultation process is following Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines. I intend to launch a public consultation phase on 12th July involving both public meetings and online opportunities for the public and partners to input. The new International Development Policy will be launched in the autumn, taking on board the outputs from the public consultation phase. These discussions and the new policy will inform our budget deliberations in relation to the allocations of ODA in budget 2019.
