Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 26 June 2024
Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs
EU Funding of Development Sector and its Role in International Development: Discussion
10:00 am
Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source
I understand that. The intention is always good but sometimes the pressures put on decision-makers are not always acknowledged and the context of why those decisions are taken. Human nature is that EU citizens will want to make sure that internal issues are dealt with as a first priority. That will be the way for most citizens. It was interesting what Ms Wigens, I think, said about the EU needing Africa the same as Africa needs the EU and shifting the narrative around global stability because there is a lot of conflict in the world. Until we solve the root cause of these problems, we are throwing money at something but not really fixing the issues. That is another conversation to be had. However, shifting the narrative around the idea that we all need to work together because it benefits everybody is something that is not focused on enough. We need to explain to citizens why we are doing this. It is not just about giving grant-aid to people to fix the immediate issue but about the long-term goals that we all share. That might help garner greater support for more funding. Does Ms Wigens wish to respond to that briefly?
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