Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade
Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised)
3:50 pm
Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source
We make mandatory contributions worth €46 million to international organisations. Have we any say in how this money is allocated and is it spent in ways that are in keeping with our values? The bureaucracy of an organisation like the United Nations must give rise to massive administration costs, as opposed to money that could be given in direct aid. When we negotiate trade agreements, human rights and workers' conditions have to be included. We must do our best to lead by example on those issues.
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