Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020
406. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Ireland continues to live up to international commitments in terms of overseas aid, bilateral and multilateral; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28823/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's development cooperation has maintained a strong reputation for targeting and delivering support to countries and communities in greatest need across the globe. Our Official Development Assistance (ODA) is delivered with, and through, a wide range of bilateral and multilateral partners.
The OECD Development Assistance Committee's recent peer review (May 2020) found that Ireland 'walks the talk' in allocating ODA to least developed countries and fragile states, priority partners and sectors. Ireland is noted as a constructive and reliable partner to multilateral organisations, with funding that is of high quality. In terms of our bilateral partnerships, Ireland is one of the leading DAC donors in providing support to and through Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), with the OECD peer review finding that these relationships are characterised by mutual trust, quality funding, and an open culture for substantive and regular dialogue.
In Our Shared Future, the Programme for Government, the Government committed to making incremental, sustainable progress towards achieving the UN target of spending 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) to Official Development Assistance (ODA) by 2030. In making this commitment, the Government recognised that reaching 0.7% will require a significant expansion in ODA volumes over the next decade and that, at times, difficult choices would be required between competing priorities. Reaching 0.7% would mean sustained, substantial increases during and beyond the lifetime of the current Dáil.
Progress is being made toward the 0.7%. target. From 2014 to 2020 Ireland's allocations to ODA grew from €614 million to almost €838 million, the sixth consecutive year allocations to ODA were increased. On Budget day October 2019, it was predicted that the GNI/ODA percentage this year would be in the region of 0.31%. Further sustained, managed increments will be required to deliver on the 0.7% commitment by 2030, taking into consideration the range of demands across Government and the capacity of the public finances to meet them. Growing the ODA programme in a steady, measured and graduated manner will ensure that we protect and nurture the good reputation and quality of Irish Aid's work into the future.
