Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We can be proud that Ireland has played a role in getting us to where we are, particularly in getting the sustainable development goals accepted. There is general satisfaction that they are much stronger than what went before. The goals and targets are there and, hopefully, the indicators will be there before we wrap up in September. Addis Ababa is crucial in delivering what is necessary in terms of money, and the fact that what will be required is perhaps five times what the international community is currently delivering in aid means it will be a big ask, and it is important that we have a strong team there. It will not necessarily just happen in Addis Ababa. Much of our work is done and it has been done through the EU and the UN, especially over the past number of months.

Mr. Gaffey said: "[T]his can mark the start of a clear transformation of our concept of global citizenship and responsibility." I have just returned from the Turkish-Syrian border, where I visited Turkish camps and witnessed the fact that Turkey has been left to deal with 2 million refugees swamping the country. I am afraid there is little evidence of a global sense of citizenship there. While money is important, I wonder about whether the will is there, and I sense that what is happening in Africa and other parts of the world is everyone's responsibility. This cannot be left to the countries directly affected. I am also thinking of Italy, which we have pretty much abandoned, and I am not surprised that they are about to abandon us as well. It is not just about aid, although money is desperately important; it is about tax, investment, trade and governance. I was quite despondent on my return from my trip to Turkey, having witnessed the scale of the problem, which will grow. Our lack of success despite all the aid that has been given to Africa over the years is evidenced by the wave of migration, and there is no sign of that stopping as the population grows on the continent.

I am glad that gender equality is high on the Irish agenda. Does Mr. Gaffey have a sense of whether this new transformative agenda to which he referred will be delivered in practice? I realise in asking that question that if he knows the answer, we are probably not paying him enough.