Overseas Development Aid  Budget 

Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs

Dé Máirt, 12 Deireadh Fómhair 2004. Tuesday, 12 October 2004

…Deputy Cuffe: I want to use the first 0.7% of my speech to welcome the Minister of State.  What will be his legacy?  This is a U-turn.  It is backtracking.  Is he aware of the commitment the Taoiseach made on 3 September 2002?  He stated:

“The decline in global ODA in the 1990s is shameful, indefensible and inconsistent with the commitments given at Rio.  I re-iterate Ireland's absolute commitment to achieving, by 2007, the UN target of spending 0.7% of GNP on Overseas Development Assistance.”

Will the Minister of State please state his absolute commitment to reaching that target, not at some undefined date in the future but in two years time, by 2007?  

That was an absolute commitment given by the Minister of State's party leader.  Is this change occurring because the marginalised do not have votes or because representatives of developing countries cannot turn up at the gates of Leinster House or St. Luke's? 

 Ireland should be a beacon of hope in the world, not a symbol of lack of commitment.  I note that when bodies such as the National Roads Authority looked for a commitment to multi-annual funding, they got it immediately at the drop of a hat.  Why is a commitment to multi-annual funding for development aid not given again?  I wonder whether the dalliance with Fr. Seán Healy at Inchydoney was simply a fling or a one night stand. Does the Minister of State remember what he said?  Is he afraid of making a commitment to the issues about which he spoke or was it simply a fling in west Cork forgotten about once he came back to Dublin?

In a section of his contribution the Minister of State dealt with development aid.  I hope he will look back at what Fr. Healy said and pay more attention to it.  What he said on radio last Friday was a slap in the face for developing countries.  He is taking it out on those least able to defend themselves, those without a vote at the Cabinet table or in Leinster House.  

I call on him to reverse last Friday's back-tracking which was a sickening blow to the developing world.  He should think about his own legacy and ensure the commitment to reach the target 0.7% is achieved, not at some ill-defined date in the future but in less than 1,000 days' time, in 2007.

Deputy C. Lenihan…

  I hope I will be more than two years and nine months in the Department and that my legacy as Minister of State will be that in the calendar year 2007 we will be within striking distance of, if not on, the targeted figure of 0.7%.  

  There are other items I would like to leave if I ever depart from the Department which I will discuss at another time.

   Deputy Cuffe: It is a completely ambiguous position.  ….

   Deputy C. Lenihan: …

 Deputy Cuffe asked a broad question about the 0.7% target.  I believe I have answered his question and the specified versus unspecified-----

   Deputy Cuffe: With respect, the Minister of State has left me more confused than ever.