Ms Suzanne Keatinge:

I thank Ms Van Lieshout and the committee for this great session. The Deputies asked about SDGs. I am grateful to the committee for looking for practical actions in terms of what it can do. It is important to say that Ireland should have been looking at a review of the national implementation plan last year and it did not happen. We really need to see new energy on that to make sure we are tracking what we are doing and not doing. That applies not only in Ireland but to our programme countries. Perhaps it is an appropriate proposal to this committee that we pay particular attention to SDG 5, based on this conversation. I loved what Deputy Clarke said about letting women be a catalyst for something new. Perhaps that should be our way of championing this issue.

We have a great international development policy and, at the heart of it, Irish Aid stated it wants to think about what leaving no one behind and reaching the furthest behind first actually means. That has to be about women and girls. We have not yet heard what that guidance looks like and what specifically they are going to do to make sure the policy really does make sure no one is left behind. I urge the committee to ask questions around this policy to make sure it is very clear and that they are prioritising the right things.