Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. O'Neill for his comprehensive presentation which covered a wide spectrum of development and aid issues. It is a challenging scene, given the global economic environment and the many demands for aid made across the globe.

It is a challenging scene given the global economic situation and also the many demands for aid across the globe.

The preamble of the European Commission communication, A Decent Life for All, mentions human rights as an issue for aid. The committee has discussed the matter and we feel that reference should go well beyond a reference in the preamble and should be part of the objectives, implementation and accountability. What are Irish Aid's intentions with regard to the post-2015 development framework? How can we capitalise on our membership of the UN Human Rights Council in order to place human rights at the centre of that debate with regard to international aid?

Dr. O'Neill referred to sustainable investment finance. To what extent are the UN principles on lending and borrowing being endorsed, implemented and strengthened? Lending, particularly private lending, is obviously an issue in developing countries. Developed countries and particularly developing countries have been extremely badly affected by the global economic downturn over the past five years, which came about as a result of irresponsible banking and lending, and also a serious failure of regulation everywhere. Of course Ireland was a prime example of that. What emphasis will the review place on improving the regulation and supervision of the financial sector, and supporting developing countries' involvement in those particular reforms?

Dr. O'Neill made reference to value for money, which should obviously apply in everything. Every euro of taxpayers' money that is spent should come under the microscope in that regard. There is a need for thorough evaluations of development and poverty-reduction impacts, including whether the money could be better used elsewhere before promoting the diversion of scarce ODA to blend with loans that mainly benefit European companies. There is a danger in this. I know we have moved to sustainable development, which is important. However, it is equally important that we do not allow that to become distorted. It needs to meet the needs of the donee countries rather than trying to generate our own European economic development. Therefore there is a need to refrain from pushing trade and investment agreements and perhaps international taxation standards that are detrimental to developing countries' economies.

I commend Dr. O'Neill on his presentation. I am sure other members will have other issues to raise.