Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to repeat points that have already been made. One of the most successful aspects of Irish Government is its involvement in Irish Aid. It is very sad that no member of the media has thought it worthwhile to come to the meeting to listen to what is being done abroad and to report on it. All that is ever reported is how we are doing in terms of the 0.7% of GNI goal but there are no questions about how the money is being spent or who knows what it is being spent on. The witnesses should make a video on the role and work of Irish Aid and tell the world and the people of Ireland what it does, where it does it and that it is not all about money but is about its role and involvement in different organisations and different parts of the world. I am very serious when I say that because there is a total ignorance of those matters. It is all about pounds, shillings and pence and nothing to do with the things we have heard of this morning, which is a terrible shame. One thing I hope will come out of the meeting is for the witnesses to take up my suggestion as it would be very worthwhile.

The first people to get the video should be the Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas so that they would all be fully aware of the extent and role of Irish Aid and its involvement throughout the world. This is not just about money, it is about people and their work. One could put 20 people into a place where one good person would be equal to the 20. One can waste or spend money or dish it out just to say targets have been met. I am more interested in where money is going and the input we have in dealing with various problems around the world. Even if nothing else comes out of the meeting, I hope the witnesses will agree to make a video or similar because people need to know what is being done and they do not currently know that. I have been a Member of the Oireachtas for approximately 30 years and I did not know the extent of what Irish Aid does. I knew of the organisation and various aspects of its work but I did not know the full extent of that. One can issue press releases and so on but that is irrelevant because the media is not interested in that and is only interested in how we are doing in terms of the 0.7%.

That is it. I am more interested in what we are doing with the 0.3%, the great work that is being done and the progress that is being made.