Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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That is vital. It is also important that the issue of AIDS be raised at European level. These cuts could lead to potentially very serious loss of life. There is no point in sugarcoating it. There is a real risk to life because of these cuts.

Ireland will have the Presidency of the EU starting next summer. There is some opportunity to shift the agenda there. The Minister of State is right about controlling controllables in terms of the EU's aid budget. For countries that are under pressure financially themselves, and if aid is not potentially forthcoming for essential projects, is there an argument to look once again at the issue of debt and potentially that that can be explored given that the scale of what was provided through USAID will no longer be there? I ask the Minister of State to consider that. I know the Presidency does not control everything, but there is scope to add items to the agenda and to try to put a particular lens or focus on certain matters.