Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail)
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I thank all the witnesses for their presentations. I will first focus on the contribution of Ms McKenna. When we have witnesses before a committee we always try to find how we can help them and further the causes we are all trying to pursue together. You might be able to assist in the matter, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. One of the big asks is to make representations to the finance Ministers regarding our contributions and the debt. I do not know if it would be appropriate to invite them to appear before the committee at some stage. We could make a case for doing so and perhaps consider the matter in private session. As my colleague said, we are all singing from the same hymn sheet and we all have the same aspirations, as have our constituents. We are all very proud of our record.

Regarding Dr. Keogh's contribution, I think this is one of the first times we have had a proper contribution from a disability perspective. That is most welcome. I thank her very much for coming in to give that perspective because it is often lost.

We constantly hear how women and young girls are disproportionately affected by conflict, war and climate change. Therefore, it is really important for us to concentrate on helping women and young girls but we must not forget how people with disabilities are also affected.

The roll-out of broadband has been mentioned. We have all heard that Elon Musk's Starlink programme has played a huge role in rolling out broadband when it ceased due to the onset of the war in Ukraine. I am interested in hearing about what we can do on a larger level to progress the roll-out of broadband. I am sure there is a special group on broadband roll-out in sub-Saharan Africa.

On education, without doubt Ireland is as good as it is because of its free education system. It was great to hear Ms Tenorio say that we take for granted the improved access to education. Our parents might not have had third level education but we now all have access to third level education. We take that situation for granted but every family in this country has benefited. Increased access to education was something that had to be thought of in places like Leinster House, where politicians discussed whether to introduce free education for all. Ultimately, a policy decision was made in the Oireachtas years ago that gave us the authority to thrive. I always think that the most important policy measure is probably the ability of women, girls and men, and people with disabilities of all ages, to access third level education.

Ms Tenorio mentioned the stark statistic that the literacy rate has decreased in sub-Saharan Africa. Was the decrease purely the result of Covid? Ireland is a First World country and we closed our schools during the Covid pandemic so one can only imagine the damage that was done to education progression in Third World countries.

Finally, I thank both delegations for attending and I enjoyed their presentations.