Ms Jane-Ann McKenna:

I will address the questions on percentages and refugee costs. If we look at the OECD development assistance committee, DAC, preliminary figures for Ireland and exclude refugee costs, we can see that we were at 0.34% for 2024. Including refugee costs, the figure is 0.57%. We really use the 0.34% figure. We see the contribution for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland as necessary, but it effectively inflates our ODA figure, so we are really looking at what it is in terms of ODA that is spent overseas and ensuring that this amount continuously goes up year on year and we see a pathway to seeing it reach the 0.7% target.

In terms of grants versus loans, we can probably provide more information on this but with the OECD DAC rules, the challenge is trying to fit more into what we consider classic ODA. There is a place for different instruments, engaging with different instruments with different countries, particularly in the global south, and seeing how we can support the economy and other investments. We are concerned with protecting what we intend ODA to be used for, that is, reducing poverty and looking at those we are trying to target with that piece where grants are the most suitable. Does Mr. Crowley wish to come in on the humanitarian point?