What the White Paper says. . .
"First and foremost, we give aid because it is right that we help those in greatest need. We are bound together by more than globalisation. We are bound together by a shared humanity. The fate of others is a matter of concern to us. From this shared humanity comes a responsibility to those in great need beyond the borders of our own State. For some, political and strategic motives may influence decisions on the allocation of development assistance.
"That is not the case for Ireland. For Ireland, the provision of assistance and our co-operation with developing countries are a reflection of our responsibility to others and of our vision of a fair global society."