Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses and welcome them. We addressed climate change several weeks ago when witnesses, including Professor Sweeney, came before the committee. It was a very interesting meeting. We had an in-depth presentation on the consequences of gas emissions, the targets we are setting and the obligations on Ireland as a State to comply in the very tricky areas of grassland, cattle and alternatives. There is no doubt that we are suffering severely from climate change. The winds are clear proof of this, as are the rainfall and the warmer summers. Ironically, we have not hit the colder winters yet, but all the telltale signs are there.

We must applaud the French diplomatic corps, which is credited with having done a wonderful job in bringing so many diverse countries and views together, resulting in a positive climate change programme. The witnesses mentioned concerns about TTIP. I have been knocking about with foreign affairs and European affairs for the past five years, and I have noticed more association and trade agreements with countries such as Colombia and Peru. We have just completed an agreement with Central America, which must still be ratified by the Dáil, and there are various agreements with African countries. We are invariably subjected to lobbying by the NGO sector. My position is quite clear, given my experience with regard to Colombia and having had a private debate with the Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is a huge advocate of these trade agreements and discussed the advantages of these relationships for countries. European relationships develop, Ireland signs into these programmes and we go forward. In a nutshell, does Dóchas have a position on these agreements? Is it negative or positive? We will leave TTIP aside because it is not complete and there are many more rounds of talks to go before it will reach a conclusion. I am not asking about TTIP but about the other agreements that Ireland has ratified as part of the European Union.

The witnesses do much fundraising, naturally enough. Are they conscious of the sensitivities of, for example, the Ethiopians, given some of the slogans used by NGOs in eliciting funds for their organisations? They project scenes of poverty and the depth of the wells. We can look at the height of Liberty Hall and the slogans that went with it. Do diplomats feel this is not the image they want, for example, of Ethiopia? Do the witnesses have a comment on this? I congratulate the organisation, which consists of 65 NGOs. We would be lost without the lobbying and the contributions they make. We hear many presentations, and they have been like our political advisers on many occasions. I thank them for this.