Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. O'Caoimh for his presentation, which was interesting. It is heartening that we are moving away from the emphasis on aid that existed in the past and are talking about trade, development and investment in Africa, a continent of 50-plus countries. I was somewhat alarmed to hear of a bias against products coming from Africa. We have international trading rules. The World Organisation for Animal Health, OIE, has standards that must be achieved for food that is internationally traded. Perhaps he would elaborate on that issue. I mentioned the World Trade Organization previously in a different context. There is a need for a need for a plenary session and a new deal for developing countries. That is one issue that has gone off the political agenda throughout the developed world, or at least that is how it appears to me from the outside. It is an area on which there should be a greater emphasis in the different forums and by NGOs in all countries.

Mr. O'Caoimh also mentioned the huge disparity in the export-import ratio. His presentation showed that between 2008 and 2012 the ratio increased from 7:1 to 43:1. Was this due to additional exports or was there a fall-off in imports? Were there some particular products, such as pharmaceuticals, medical appliances or whatever, that resulted in that huge disparity?

I am not familiar with Mr. O'Caoimh's work but I compliment Irish Aid, Trócaire and other NGOs on giving him some assistance. Perhaps he would elaborate on his work in Britain. I presume there is no European umbrella body within which similar organisations work.