Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Before I call on the Minister of State, Deputy Canon, for his concluding reply, I will repeat what Deputies O'Sullivan and Grealish said about our visit to Malawi and Mozambique. It was my first visit to that part of Africa, and it was a real learning curve to see the levels of deprivation, poverty and hunger, and the desire of people to get a better way of life. The hunger for education among the most impoverished people was one thing that struck me. We saw the very inadequate health centres, and the difficult circumstances in which so many people are working. Again, the message given to us by representatives and ambassadors from other countries, and indeed people who had no connection with Ireland, was one of appreciation for the great work and the impact of Irish Aid. The EU ambassador felt very strongly about the great benefits that the work of Irish Aid has brought, and continues to bring, to so many people.

Deputy Barrett and other colleagues mentioned the role of the religious missionaries over the years. We met with some who were there all their lives. These people are literally in their 70s and are still ministering and working away in the most deprived areas. It was great to hear local people and representatives of other countries refer to the outstanding work that those people have done over many decades, and continue to do. As Deputy Barrett said, the numbers there reflect favourably on many religious denominations.

My colleagues, Deputies Grealish and O'Sullivan, referred to the areas of education, health and poverty. I am very glad that Deputy O'Sullivan mentioned that, per the Dóchas submission, the need of the people with disabilities as well needs to be advanced. That is very much the case. It has to be a particular focus.

In his introductory remarks, the Minister of State mentioned Irish potato seed technology. This has the potential to improve yields, and has already done so. Improving yields and productivity naturally brings increased incomes to the farmers. It improves their living standards, and very importantly, if those people have any surplus income, it is put away to pay for second level school fees.

We have the potential to be more actively engaged in knowledge transfer in the farming and agrifood sector. I mentioned previously to the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and to the Minister of State's departmental colleagues who are here today that we should be harnessing the potential of the private sector to engage in knowledge transfer to a greater extent. I know that some work is under way. I believe there is huge potential there. Many Irish companies started off as small indigenous enterprises, such as a creamery employing two people, and they are now international corporations. I am sure that there is good work going on between them and Irish Aid. However, that could be ratcheted up much more.

Deputy Barrett spoke about targeting young people to replace the missionaries who are no longer there. There is a cohort of people who are active but retired. Consider the people in the advisory and education service within the agrifood sector who are retired. Some of them were State employees and were employed by Teagasc, the universities and the agriculture colleges. There are also many people who carry out advisory and education work with the co-operatives and in the private sector. There is a wealth of knowledge there. It should be tapped, if only by having those people visit recipient countries for a short time or involving them in online education. I know that the latter option is not that simple in the countries in question because people do not have access to technology. The area could be dramatically improved. The Government should target those people who have the knowledge and experience, and who are still thankfully in good health and are fit to impart it in order to improve the lot of aid recipients farming very small acreage.

Knowledge transfer is needed, whether in animal husbandry or crop husbandry. In Malawi we saw the dramatic effects of knowledge transfer for potato growers. It helps ensure that the most nutritious crop varieties, particularly for feeding children, are developed. I represent two counties, Cavan and Monaghan, that have very large agrifood industries. The farmers there work difficult terrain such as drumlin soil. Growing up on a small farm, I remember that the farming community was always anxious to learn. They went on field walks. The co-operatives ran competitions to improve grass and silage production, cattle breeding and the fulfilment of the dietary requirements of animals. These efforts were all aimed at getting better yields and better production to improve the income of farmers. We were doing that throughout this country. I am familiar with it in my own constituency of Cavan-Monaghan, having grown up on a small farm.

We are discussing parts of Africa that are many decades behind our level of development, but we should be targeting knowledge transfer. It is also very cost-effective. We would empower people, deal with their nutritional requirements, as well as generate income for them. It would be so powerful in so many respects. As Deputy Barrett said, we can all help to get the message across that people could contribute in a very positive way to improving the lot of the most disadvantaged people in the world.

People often ask us how we spread the message that very valuable work is being done by Irish Aid. Deputy Grealish referred to that. None of us does it enough, because most of us have not experienced it first hand. If people have ownership of a project, they identify with it more. Maybe if companies in the agrifood sector from particular parts of the country entered into partnerships with particular countries in Africa, that could bring a sense of community ownership to the project. It might even help to create a better appreciation of the needs of those people in the most disadvantaged areas, the good work that is being done, and the great return on very small funding. The Irish people are generous. They respond to the appeals for help in the different crises that arise throughout the world. However, we need to constantly get the message across about the good work that is being done on a daily basis. We were privileged to meet many young people working with the different NGOs, in the countries we visited.

I understand Deputy O'Sullivan has a final question before I invite the Minister of State to make his concluding remarks.