Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in welcoming Mr. Gaffey, Mr. Tierney and Ms Hayes to the meeting, and in complimenting Irish Aid on the wonderful work it does in the most deprived parts of the world, which has ensured its aid programme is one of the most respected internationally. We all want a scenario in which we will reach our aid target of 0.7% of gross national income as a country. As politicians, it is incumbent on us to keep the pressure on to ensure that as the economy recovers, we gradually and quickly get to a point at which we can achieve that.

A great deal of progress was made under the millennium development goals agenda, but much more remains to be done. I welcome the fact that there are three fundamental ways in which the sustainable development goals will build on what has been achieved, but perhaps I take a simplistic view that it will be difficult to make much progress unless the issues of peace, security and political stability are addressed in some of the poorer countries we are discussing. Is there joined-up thinking about how these issues will be addressed and how to exert greater pressure in countries where there is conflict and strife? We would solve many of the problems if we could overcome some of the peace and security issues.

One of the weaknesses in the process is that it is voluntary. How will progress be monitored? There are no sanctions if countries do not do what they commit to. How will pressure be exerted on the various signatories to the agreements to deliver?

Mr. Gaffey mentioned the current ODA contribution of €135 billion increasing to between €5 trillion and €7 trillion, and said that could only be achieved by leveraging private investment. What are the risks and opportunities associated with such a strategy? How can these moneys be leveraged both innovatively and effectively?