Last week, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, visited Ireland. He addressed the National Forum on Europe and spoke to the Taoiseach and members of the Government. I would like confirmation from the Taoiseach that Ireland will do whatever is necessary to meet its target for overseas development aid by 2007. Will the Taoiseach confirm to the House that we will meet the target of 0.7% of GNP by 2007?

I was struck by a comment made by Deputy Gay Mitchell some time ago. We have been very strong on this issue and he speaks with great conviction on it. He said we should legislate to ensure this happens. It would be a demonstration of real leadership by the Government, not only for ourselves but for other nations, if this target was achieved and if there was no messing with it. Would the Taoiseach agree that would be a useful measure which would receive support from this side of the House?

While he was here Kofi Annan said it was very important that countries lived up to their international responsibilities. In his address to the forum he said an additional 30,000 police and army personnel were needed by the United Nations. Is it envisaged that the Government would supply further numbers of either gardaí or Army personnel to troubled spots throughout the world? In that regard, he said the increased numbers from China were very welcome. Given the number of trouble spots throughout the world where murder, rape and genocide take place on a daily basis, does the Taoiseach share the view that we should look to the future and that our personnel, by consent under the normal criteria, would participate more fully in peacekeeping and peace enforcement in trouble spots throughout the world?

On overseas development aid, we have driven that issue strongly for the past number of years. While increased economic growth always changes the formation and makes the actual sum higher, we have continued to drive that issue forward. We have gone from €150 million or €160 million to €480 million. Economic growth of 6% or 7% drives it on also. We are widely acknowledged, both in the World Bank and the IMF, for what we have achieved. We are now seventh out of 193 countries, which is a huge commitment by the Irish people. Irish taxpayers are paying almost €0.5 billion and we have to continue to drive that on to try to get to 0.7% as quickly as possible. Needless to say it is a target we hope to reach but it is substantial money which is important, as one of the issues we have had to deal with this year.

I met representatives of many aid organisations at the AIDS conference in 2001 and the development goals conference in 2000. There are as many arguments made about the money we are actually giving, the way we are giving it and whether it is going to the right organisations. The Deputy is aware of the argument about Uganda. I spent hours discussing the issue of Uganda with various organisations and the money we were giving. We must increase the money but we also must ensure we get value for it, that the regimes are in order and the projects in place. That is an issue — one cannot simply pour in the money without watching how it is controlled. We give a good signal everywhere which is important to our missionaries around the world, both religious and lay, of which there is now probably more. It is greatly appreciated. Many of our people, from former President Robinson, to Bob Geldof, Bono and others who lead in this area, find it helpful to receive more money and while I understand the knock-on effect of that, even if we were to get the full figure we would move only a few paces.

Some countries are at 1.1% because they have been able to use oil resources but we are committed to driving it on and putting in further money. At the same time we must be cautious and ensure we get value for programmes because for the past year I have spent more time dealing with problems arising from the money we have given than the money we did not give. I am committed, however, to driving it on.

Would the Taoiseach consider legislation?

That is not necessary. We must justify this, and to get to that point we need almost an additional €200 million. The Department and the Minister of State dealing with this is working with the organisations which are very good. It is a matter of planning and of maintaining certainty. If along the way it becomes necessary to legislate perhaps we should do that. It is good for the country. While we may fight about resources in other areas this question involves a bigger issue.

On the question of additional military and police personnel, Kofi Annan has spelt out very clearly that he needs extra people in many places. He is particularly anxious to involve more French-speaking countries. As he said publicly when he was here, he is quite pleased that he has additional Chinese resources, and in Haiti, a back door to the United States, he is using Chinese troops which is quite a change from the position some time ago. We have honoured several commitments in Liberia and elsewhere. He did not ask me for any further commitments but often we are asked for a few senior people. Several of our officers and gardaí working abroad are well-known and are continually sought for new assignments, or when they finish an assignment are asked to go to another one. We have always tried to accommodate that and continue to do so.