Mr. Sorley McCaughey:

We would like the committee to consider writing to the Taoiseach requesting that he ensures Ireland is represented by a senior member of Cabinet in Addis Ababa. We have tried to outline the seriousness and the interconnectedness of the three conferences taking place this year and it would be appropriate for the Taoiseach to ask a senior member of Cabinet to attend. We would also urge the Government in the negotiations in Addis Ababa to support those modalities of financing for development which produce equitable and sustainable development results for the world's poorest. These should include a commitment to the attainment by 2020 of the UN target of 0.7% of GNI for overseas development aid; a continued commitment that Ireland's overseas development aid is untied and focused on the poorest communities and countries; the establishment of an intergovernmental body under the auspices of the UN; and the establishment of a UN-led mechanism for resolving sovereign debt crises. These are very concrete requests that we would like the committee to consider.