Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I thank the witnesses for a thought-provoking presentation. I must admit at the outset that economics is my weakest point. However, I take particular note because I am a member of the Labour Party, which is the junior coalition partner in government, and because many challenging points have been raised that effectively are criticisms or requests for the Government to do more or to do something it is not doing. While I have never addressed many of these issues previously, it is of interest that this joint committee is a loyal advocate of the policies of Irish Aid. In fact, some people think this committee in the past has been more concerned about Irish Aid than any other foreign affairs issue. The witnesses bring to members' attention the fact that they are critical of Ireland's support for the International Finance Corporation, IFC, projects. Interestingly, it appears from the paper submitted that these projects are supported through Irish Aid. If the coalition's paper goes on to tell members what is going on in Honduras, including everything from forced evictions to kidnappings and killings of farmers, and that somehow or other, Ireland is complicit by virtue of Irish Aid supporting this development capital, then it raises serious questions. Unfortunately, however, the experts are not present today to answer for the joint committee but it is a matter to which I am keen to elicit a response. It is a very serious allegation or set of statistics or facts in that heretofore, members would never have dreamed that Irish Aid could in any way be complicit in such an area of deprivation, crime and torture. I understand the palm oil companies are evicting farmers or whatever and presumably, there is huge conflict in this regard. Consequently, I thank the witnesses for bringing this matter to the joint committee's attention.

I am feeling rather defensive because I do not know a huge amount about the workings of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development except that Ireland is a member and therefore, is a member of an exclusive but apparently talented organisation. Am I correct to imply the witnesses have suggested that Ireland should not use the offices of the OECD but instead should be using the offices of the United Nations? I do not know at what stage the United Nations is at in engaging in the question of tax justice but I am aware that Ireland is particularly concerned and clearly highly embarrassed by allegations, not least of which emanate from the United States of America. I believe my colleague, Deputy Durkan, has personal experience of a wealthy man from somewhere in Africa I believe-----