Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 24 April 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade

Overseas Development Issues: Discussion with Centre for Global Development and GOAL

3:30 pm

Dr. Edward Lahiff:

Very good. In terms of specialism and bringing in resources, Ireland has made a real impact in the area of hunger and nutrition. It has kept hunger on the global agenda when many other countries would have preferred to push it away. UCC, likewise, has specialised in this area. It is why we want to have a new master's degree in this programme. We see it as a world leader. It would be aimed not at Irish or Cork students but at an international cohort of students. That is where we might come looking for support. We would love to have an organisation such as the World Food Programme involved in that programme. We need a sponsor as well, such as Irish Aid or an international body, to make it work. In terms of that area of specialism, the movement is already there and it should be encouraged if at all possible.