Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Dec 1991

Vol. 414 No. 5

Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

17 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is the Government's intention to substantially increase the level of overseas development aid in 1992; if so, if provision will be made in the 1992 Estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

21 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government intend to increase Ireland's official Third World aid contribution in the 1992 Estimates; if the commitment to increase ODA contained in the review of the Programme for Government refers to the bilateral aid programme; if any minimum increase is planned; if he will outline the criteria which will be used to determine the level of increase; if he is prepared to discuss, with the Opposition parties, a timetable for achieving the UN recommended figure of 0.7 per cent of GNP; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

25 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the meaning of the paragraph in the recently negotiated Programme for Government relating to Ireland's ODA programme; if he will further outline the amount per annum by which he proposes to increase our contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

46 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to increase Ireland's contribution to overseas development aid in 1992; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

50 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline, further to the commitments given to increase overseas development assistance as outlined in the review of the Programme for Government, the ODA/GNP percentage ratio he hopes to achieve between now and 1993.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 21, 25, 46 and 50 together.

The reference to development co-operation in the revised Programme for Government is as follows: "The Government will undertake 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."

I believe that the meaning of this commitment is clear.

The Estimates for Public Services for 1992 are currently under consideration by the Government. The outcome will be made public in due course. In considering the allocations for ODA for 1992 and subsequent years, the Government will be conscious of the commitment to development co-operation contained in the revised programme.