Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the witnesses for their interesting and eloquent presentations. It is true to say that the impact of Brexit on development aid and general policy has been overlooked. It is important that we consider this matter along with all the other areas that will be impacted by Brexit. The witnesses have clearly conveyed the message to link the impact of Brexit with the need for Ireland to increased its spending on ODA to the target of 0.7%.

I like the way this has been linked with the post-Brexit climate and the need for us to step up and become a more leading advocate. We get this message and I ask the Chairman to pass it on.

I am interested in focusing on the practical impact of Brexit on EU development programmes on the ground in recipient developing countries. How do we ensure minimal impact of the loss of UK funding to these programmes? There is a mixed series of signals on this. The UK opposed joint programming. I worked briefly on a Department for International Development, DFID, funded programme many years ago in China, and my sense is the DFID has maintained a very independent position on aid. Deputy O'Sullivan spoke about the DFID policy of privatising aid, but my sense was the DFID always kept a very separate aid identity to the EU and that the UK, perhaps more than any other country, maintained a very separate aid programme to the EU programme. It makes me wonder in terms of the impact for recipient countries, will the impact be minimised if the DFID keeps up its own spending even if it no longer channels it through the EU. Ms Faure pointed out that some programmes are ongoing and funding may be continued, and there is some indication there may be transitional funding from the UK into programmes running up to 2020. There is some potential there to minimise impact for recipient countries and that even if the EU budget is reduced the same money will go to developing countries. How can Ireland work with the DFID to ensure this remains the case? Even if we see EU funds reduced, can we ensure the impact is not felt in developing countries and they still get the money through other means? This is very important given our role as the country closest to the UK.

We have worked very closely with the UK. We also work a lot with Anglophone countries. How do we see new alliances forming after Brexit between Ireland and other EU countries in terms of channelling aid? Ms Faure mentioned Italy has similar interests to us with regard to famine relief. This would be interesting to explore. I note in other commentary many people see Spain as becoming a much more leading player in the EU when Britain leave, and that Spain will be elevated into the top ranks alongside France and Germany. If this happens will we see potential there for greater emphasis on Latin America? Clearly Ireland has very strong links with Latin America. Eamon Gilmore is the EU envoy in the peace process in Colombia. There is much potential, I would have thought, for Ireland to work with new allies such as Spain and possibly Italy in developing aid policies at EU level.

Ms Brennan spoke about increasing trade with sub-Saharan Africa. We had a very interesting presentation from the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa, AWEPA, some weeks ago about various areas in which there is real trading potential. Will Ms Brennan expands on particular countries with which we might see relationships? Ireland has particular priority countries in Africa and we have embassies and consulates with which we could work. Ms Brennan spoke about value-added imports from Africa and I ask her to expand on this.