Ms Jane-Ann McKenna:

I will start on the response and will then ask Mr. Crowley to come in on a couple of those points. On the impact of the cuts, it was only announced last week where those cuts would take place. It looks like it is spread over a number of programmes and how they divide both geographically and thematically. There is still scope to try to advocate and lobby. This is spread over the next couple of years, so there is scope still to really push for those cuts to not affect the most fragile or least developed countries. This is one of the reasons we wanted to come in here. The timing of this committee is quite important because there still is an opportunity for Ireland to continue to push for those cuts not to affect those who are furthest behind.

The Deputy's point on ODA is very relevant. Last week we launched our pre-budget submission. In this we looked beyond not only Ireland fulfilling its commitment to ODA and looking for an increase in the budget for next year, but we looked also at what needs to happen in order for there to be a fair financial system. We looked at how Ireland can support debt cancellation, debt treatment alternatives, and IMF surcharges. We have a series of recommendations in there because we know that ODA in isolation will not have the desired impact. We need to look more broadly and be much more transformative in what we are trying to achieve while supporting a new UN tax convention, for example, and fiscal bodies at regional global south levels, and in looking at how Ireland can do this in its role not only in Europe but in its candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council. We definitely have some clear recommendations there.

When we look at other powers in the world and the direction of travel, this is where we are trying to focus, which is where we really think Ireland can have a significant impact. We know that in Europe and among civil society, Ireland's aid is principled aid. It is something we can be very proud of. We can see now the direction of travel in Europe and we want Ireland to step up at a European level to champion those principles, to ensure our aid is going to those who are furthest behind and is not being caught up in geopolitical agendas. This is where we are focusing today: what we can do at this very critical time to try to push back on a very hard agenda of divesting funds away from sustainable development.