The Taoiseach has published the first ever White Paper on Development Aid.
The paper sets out key principles that will guide the expansion in Irish aid spending.
It is planned that the amount of Irish taxpayers' money being spent in the poorest countries in the world is to be increased in the next five years.
Next year, Irish Aid will have €724 million to spend. That figure will double to €1.5 billion by 2012.
The publication of the White Paper on Irish Aid follows an extensive consultation process with Irish NGOs, international organisations and directly with the Irish public through a series of town hall meetings around the country.
