Mr. Michael Gaffey:

I do not know the answer on the specific question regarding the science. You get different answers from different people. Of the small island developing states, some are archipelagos of which the outlying islands have already disappeared. We are involved in seabed mapping and trying to understand that. Scientists are working on it. No one can afford to say that it will not happen in our lifetimes. It is an urgent challenge. On official development assistance, as a country, we have moved far from the notion of it just being charity for others. It is a reflection of our values and our interests as global citizens and a country active in the world.

Our total overseas development assistance this year will, I think, amount to just under €2 billion. That has been raised by first-year costs that can be counted for Ukrainian refugees here. If we are talking about money not spent in this country, it is about €1.5 billion. For the Department of Foreign Affairs, the money it manages under the heading of Irish Aid will be the highest ever this year, its 50th year. It will be €775 million or €776 million. I hope it will be higher next year because the level of need is enormous. Migration has brought some of the issues to the fore, not that we give aid to stop migration but it is a sign of the world in which we live. For instance, Europe and Africa will develop in the coming century in a way that neither can be isolated from the other. It is not only the right thing to do but is also in our interests to help in the development of economies and systems of democratic government in Africa.

The huge need in Africa in the coming century is going to be jobs for young people. There is huge talent and ability there. We want to work with partners in Africa to help to empower them because it is better that we have a developing rather than a recalcitrant Africa. Enormous progress has been made in Africa but it is not a uniform continent. We must take into the consideration the different countries and the different levels of inequality, and also the issue of conflict which is a constant threat to development. I would say that the hunger crisis that exists in the world today, the food security and nutrition crisis which should not exist in a world where we have enough food for everyone, is driven in huge part by conflict and that is utterly man-made. The work that we do on root causes and how we use our overseas development aid really is of vital importance and in our own interests as a country. I thank the Deputy very much for his comments.