Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his comprehensive presentation and replies to the members' questions. The questions were very varied and the Minister will see that members have a huge interest in this area. It is very much part of our work programme. Obviously, there is huge potential in forging closer relationships with the countries the Minister mentioned. He outlined the framework for how Ireland will move forward in the future. The committee members have seen some of that work during some of the visits that have taken place. An example is Ethiopia, which we visited two years ago. It has transformed itself into a very successful economy now, after the poverty and hunger it went through a number of years ago. Last year, the committee visited Sierra Leone, a country that has been through civil war. We saw some of the work Irish Aid and the NGOs are doing there. As it is a partner country now, there will be more focus on the priority areas the Minister mentioned. Obviously, the business and trade element is important. When I first visited Africa I saw for myself how green it is. The Minister mentioned the millions of acres of land in Mozambique and we saw some of the projects Irish Aid is doing there in helping farmers to help themselves and to grow more food. All of these projects are small but they can be made bigger. It is like a seed growing.

I sincerely thank the Minister. The committee will have a different focus now from the previous visits. We will be visiting Ghana, which the Minister visited last year, to look at the potential for trade for Ireland. That will be an interesting visit for the committee in September. There is a different focus but it is part of the way things are going forward. One World, One Future is a very important document and I am delighted that the Minister intends to retrace his footsteps back to the roots of where this document originated in terms of the views of the many people who attended those meetings. It will be valuable for the Minister to get the views of these people on the document. Many of the NGOs are delighted with what is included in the document.

I also thank the Minister of State's team including Mr. Vincent O'Neill, with whom we have been working closely over the last number of years, and Mr. Tony Cotter, a fellow Clare man. Tony has spent much time in Africa as well. The questions were wide ranging and the discussion was interesting. We look forward to more discussions with the Minister and his team in the future. Well done to him and the Tánaiste on the work they did during the EU Presidency and we hope it reaps rewards.