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

I thank the Minister of State for his presentation. Naturally, we welcome funding and assistance being given to poverty stricken areas. We also welcome assistance being given to development as well as trying to eradicate and eliminate poverty. However, I have one issue with this matter. I want to be assured that there is no duplication. I presume each member state has an overseas development assistance programmes. Thankfully, we have a very substantial one that we all want to see maintained to the maximum possible level.

We have an international development commissioner in the European Union who has, understandably, a very substantial budget that funds and supports a major programme of work in less developed countries. Perhaps the Minister of State would answer the following question and if the answer is not readily available then he might let us know subsequently. Was the European Development Fund in existence prior to the establishment of an international development directorate in the European Union?

We all know that the expansion of the European Union over the years has led to additional commissioners being appointed and that each country has a commissioner. There were specific jobs, roles and directorates established as a result of the growth in the number of member states and additional commissioners were appointed. Presumably, the European Development Fund was in existence prior to the International Development Directorate being established in the European Union. If I am correct in my assumption, was there not a case for bringing the European Development Fund under the remit of the development commissioner? I reiterate my hope that we are not losing funding and value of investment through duplication and different structures for delivering aid to those particular countries.

I note that the funding is not subject to scrutiny by the European Parliament which goes against the tenet of the Lisbon treaty. Are there changes proposed to give the budget parliamentary oversight? I welcome the fact that Ireland participates in a governance and oversight role in regard to the funding and hope that the funding is put to the best possible use. With regard to the Chairman's remarks, I hope that a greater emphasis can be placed on the opportunities available for Irish companies to take up business opportunities in Africa and elsewhere.

There is one more issue that I wish to bring to the attention of the Minister of State. I presume the ratification process is similar for all member states. Do all member states, to his knowledge, contribute to this fund?