Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The bank has integrated safeguard systems unanimously agreed by the board of directors going back to 2013. That is the cornerstone of the bank's strategy to promote growth that is socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable. Additionally, as highlighted by the Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network conducted in 2016, safeguards and standards are an area where the bank is particularly strong, which facilitates the delivery of social and environmental standards and the screening of projects, for example, against gender and climate change criteria. It is not a question of us saying, "There you go, operate as you see fit." This is pretty standard now for all the multilateral development banks.

In terms of One World, One Future regarding the achievement of gender equality, this is also an open issue upon which the bank and the fund place a special emphasis and actively seek to address the issue across all operations.