Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 23 January 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence

Ireland's SIDS Strategy, Impact of Climate Change and Update on Development Co-operation: Department of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Michael Gaffney:

It is, and, of course, we are doing this to build capacity in developing countries, but in a way it also potentially builds our influence. As any Members who have travelled around Africa or countries elsewhere will know, you meet leaders and people who have been educated by Irish priests and nuns, who have shared an educational experience with us. It builds a common bond that is really important, but also, we have leaders all over Africa who have been educated by Irish missionaries. For the future, that will not be the case, but I hope that by building our alumni network of the fellowships, as we travel around in future years, we will meet people who have had very positive experiences in Irish third level institutions and who have developed an affinity for our country and we for theirs.