Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates for the presentations. I have a bit of a difficulty with sustainable development goals, when we put them in the context of the millennium development goals. While we see statistical improvements, we know that the reality, after many years of millennium development goals, is that we have not seen the progress and improvements it was thought they would bring about. We still see rising inequality and poverty. The scaling-up nutrition initiative is vital and excellent, but for what are we scaling up children if they are going into famine conditions and if they are coming into situations in which they are going to be hungry as adults? When we look at opening up access to primary education, statistically there has been success, but again for what are we educating these young people when we know the level of growth in youth unemployment? The big one, of course, is gender equality, which was a major millennium development issue. We know that has not been achieved. It is, therefore, difficult to get excited about sustainable development goals when we are not coming from a brilliant position of having achieved all the millennium goals. One positive thing is that they are going to be applied to all countries. I am totally behind it, in particular, the climate change one and the tax. In my opinion, those two things should have come first. That they did not has undermined some of the work that has been ongoing.

I acknowledge all the work the groups have done on the tax issue. What has been lost to the developing world at this stage is horrific and frightening. One thing which I think has come about because of the groups' work is a greater awareness of the issue. Whatever good it does, and I think it is positive for the developed world, there is greater awareness of how they are giving with one hand and taking with the other. Have the groups seen any examples of good practice developing in certain African countries? We cannot look at Africa without looking at the role of the Chinese. We had, through the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa, AWEPA, the new Chinese ambassador talking to us at a meeting not too long ago. It was very interesting to hear his perspective, but there is no doubt about the kind of loans they are making available and the rate at which they are making them available. Will that upset the apple cart?

Trócaire's recent report, Where Aid Meets Trade: Ireland's role in the changing development landscape in Africa, was excellent. It raised questions about untied aid. Ireland came out very well but there is no doubt untied aid is under threat. If it comes under further threat, the sustainable development goals will be undermined. Where will that be dealt with during the conference at Addis Ababa? One of the aspects coming out of the report was that economic growth does not necessarily equate with a reduction in poverty. If that is what we are really talking about, there are concerns.

The frequency of the reviews - at least once every four years - is not enough. The other issue concerns the accountability of national parliaments and parliamentary democracy, in particular in developing world countries. Unless they are supported, there will be difficulties. I think those are all my questions.