Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are dealing today with issues relating to the European Development Fund, EDF. The committee has received a number of Commission proposals in relation to the EDF including COM (2013) 445, Council Regulation on the implementation of the European Development Fund and COM (2013) 660, Council Regulation on the Financial Regulation applicable to the 11th European Development Fund. The committee will hear today about how these different proposals relate to each other. We will then discuss the Government structures in place for the EDF and how the EDF is linked to the Irish Aid programme and other EU external relations instruments. Members will be aware that the EDF dates back to 1957 when the Treaty of Rome made provision for its establishment, with a view to granting technical and financial assistance, initially to African countries which at that time were still colonised and with which some member states have historical links.

The first EDF operated from 1959 to 1964. The EDF for 2014-2020 will be the 11th such fund. During the same period, EU external relations have developed and deepened to include programmes of assistance for pre-accession countries, the European neighbourhood policy and co-operation with third countries in terms of development co-operation and for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide. Irish Aid programmes have also grown and developed during this period. It is important that all of these programmes and funds do not operate in isolation from each other but that linkages between them maximise the benefits that can be achieved. Therefore, part of this discussion will centre on these synergies and linkages.

The committee will engage today with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I welcome Mr. John O'Grady, Ms Deirdre Lyster and Mr. Tony Cotter from the multilateral section of Irish Aid. I now invite Mr. Cotter to make his opening statement.