Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 6 March 2014

Public Accounts Committee

2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance

11:00 am

Mr. David Cooney:

It is the economic powerhouse of Africa and an economy that is growing significantly. Clearly, it will be different in profile compared to our embassies in Tanzania or Uganda, which are mainly development-focused. We see the Kenya mission as looking at development and having a significant role in promoting business with the region. As we can see in a country like Kenya, promoting business is a significant aspect of development. People who suggest that development and business are totally separate are making a big mistake. We have seen from this country that we only really achieved significant social and economic development when our economy grew. One can pour all the money in the world into-----