IRELAND WAS in the top eight in the world, per head of population, in the provision of overseas development aid, Taoiseach Brian Cowen told the Dáil.

He said that when United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon had the opportunity to visit Ireland, it would be “totally within his remit to commend successive governments” on this.

“While everybody acknowledges the budgetary problems that are affecting all developed economies, there is recognition that Ireland has made a series of huge strides in moving up the list of developed countries, in terms of our provision of overseas development aid as a proportion of overall gross national product,” he added.

Mr Cowen said that at a recent meeting, Mr Ban had referred to the continuing commitment Ireland had demonstrated.

In particular, said Mr Cowen, there was welcome recognition of the work being done by the hunger taskforce launched last year.

“The United Nations understands the focus we are trying to bring to that issue, as well as our focus on the need to assist smallholders in Africa in dealing with malnutrition, both maternal and infant, and the whole question of governance and the more effective tackling of global hunger issues by multilateral organisation, quite apart from bilateral aid programmes.”

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said it was surprising that the UN secretary general should praise Ireland at a time when the State was reducing its overseas development aid allocation.

Mr Gilmore asked whether there had been any discussion on how Ireland proposed to reach its target of 0.7 per cent of GDP.

Mr Cowen said he did not understand why Mr Gilmore should suggest there was surprise, given Ireland’s position in the top eight.