Before the Estimates were published last Thursday, I asked the Tánaiste whether the Government's policy with regard to overseas development aid was changing. There was some speculation that it might, including from the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan. The Tánaiste said the Government was still committed to its target and there was no change in this regard. I believed her and took this assertion at face value. I am sure Deputy O'Donnell also believed her.

I doubt it.

Why would the Tánaiste not be a person of her word? She will recall the commitment made on 6 September 2000 when the Taoiseach clearly stated to world leaders that:

The statistics of poverty and inequality in our world are shocking and shameful. Half the world's population is struggling on less than $2 a day and more than 1 billion on less than $1. Today, on behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland, I wish in this forum to publicly make a commitment to fully meeting the United Nations target of spending 0.7% of GNP on official development assistance.

Budget day coincides with World AIDS day. Will the Tánaiste take that opportunity to reinstate the target of 0.7% of GNP? Will she recall, in considering this issue, the words of Mr. BobGeldof when he said: "A promise made by the strong to the weak and hungry must be kept. Anything else is a sort of discreet bullying"? Is the Tánaiste happy to be called a "discreet bully" on behalf of the Government? Will she keep the promise she made that if the commitment to the world's poor were broken, as her colleague, Deputy O'Donnell, tells us it was, that she would resign from Government? I understood she was sincere when she made this commitment. What does she now propose to do? Will the 0.7% target for ODA be reinstated by budget day?

I said in this House a few weeks ago that we needed to move to a multi-annual budgetary situation for ODA in order to provide certainty. Over the next three years, we will give an additional €1.8 billion to ODA.

Some €180 million will be given.

May I be allowed to finish?

The Tánaiste should give the correct figures.

Deputy Boyle's party leader has submitted a question. Deputy Boyle should allow the answer to be given.

Our increase in ODA has been five-fold over the last decade. That is a considerable increase.

The Government broke its promises.

Our commitment is way ahead of the EU average and we are one of the highest donors in the world.

The Government made promises that were not kept.

I will not take a lecture from Deputy Rabbitte when I consider his party'spaltry record in Government.

The Tánaiste's figures are incorrect.

The Tánaiste must be allowed to continue without interruption.

The Tánaiste should be ashamed of herself.

Deputy Michael D. Higgins's party did not even meet its own target in Government.

Deputy Michael D. Higgins is not the leader of the Green Party. He should allow the Tánaiste to continue.

The Labour Party made a promise to give 0.05% per annum but gave 0.01%. Over the next three years, we will give some €1.8 billion of taxpayers' money to ODA. That is the figure.

It is €180 million. The Tánaiste is giving an incorrect figure.

Deputy Boyle should cease his interruptions.

Deputy Boyle is referring to the increase. I accept that will not reach the target of 0.7% but the Government has many competing demands in the areas of disability, health care and so on. The promise will not be broken but the timeframe will change.

It is a disgraceful situation. The Tánaiste should be ashamed of herself.

Why did the Government make a promise it did not intend to keep?

Deputy Sargent should be allowed to respond without interruption.

I will not take a lecture from Deputy Michael D. Higgins.

The Tánaiste is a disgrace.

I advise Deputy Michael D. Higgins that I have called Deputy Sargent.

Does the Tánaiste agree with Deputy O'Donnell in this matter? It is a straightforward issue. It is clear that a promise was broken. The Taoiseach made a clear commitment, there was no speaking out of both sides of the mouth. It was straight down the line that 0.7% would be given by 2007. The Taoiseach repeated this assertion again in September 2002 when he said:

Significantly increased ODA is essential to meet our goals. The decline in global ODA in the 1990s is shameful, indefensible and inconsistent with the commitments given at Rio. I reiterate Ireland's absolute commitment to achieving by 2007 the UN target of spending 0.7% of GNP on ODA.

How will the Government weasel itself out of that?

This is a promise that has been made repeatedly. Does the Tánaiste agree that it has been broken? If so, does she also agree that the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, was foolish in caving in? I share Deputy O'Donnell's view in this regard. The Tánaiste has already seen the Taoiseach break his promise. Will she now also break her promise and stay in Government after its solemn commitment on this issue has been broken? She made a commitment that she would not stay in Government if such a promise were broken.

The Government made a decision on this matter at Cabinet, as it has always done. The increases for the next three years will be the largest monetary increases we have ever given.

That is not the point.

If this were easy and did not involve priorities and choices——

The commitment has been broken.

Deputy Gormley should allow the Tánaiste to continue.

Unfortunately, there are many competing demands, particularly in the area of disability in which the Government has had to deliver significant increases in funding——

It is disgraceful.

The Government has more concern for the horseracing industry.

The Tánaiste must be allowed to continue without interruption.

I would take lectures from Deputy Michael D. Higgins if he had a better track record when his party was in power.

Deputy Michael D. Higgins had his chance.

I must ask Deputy Michael D. Higgins to remain quiet and allow the Tánaiste to continue without interruption.

The Government's commitment is to give €1.8 billion——

The Government is breaking its promises.

——by way of ODA for 2005 to 2007. I accept that figure will only constitute 0.7% if the country goes into a recession.

This is not what the Taoiseach promised.

It will not reach 0.7%.

Deputies should allow the Tánaiste to speak.

Every fair-minded person accepts the desirability of having certainty in this issue through a multi-annual approach. We now have that——

The Tánaiste should answer my question.

Deputy Sargent had his opportunity to speak.

The situation is significantly improved from its previous circumstances.