Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming in. I welcome his words on gender equality, women’s empowerment and maternal health, and I am glad the issue of development more broadly will be on the agenda for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of Europe. I would like to see an increase and continued focus on funding for women's rights organisations, which I know Ireland has already done, regarding how we can lead and advocate with member states on that issue and around locally led development and the survivor and community-led approach to humanitarian crises, so that we are moving away from the types of colonial approaches that have long characterised much of the humanitarian sector. It would be great to hear the Minister of State's feedback on political leverage that can be used - he has spoken about ODA but we have seen member states decreasing their commitments in Europe - to see that realigned to the 0.7% commitment we as European countries signed up to, recognising that the scale of the USAID cuts and other member-state cuts have not been felt yet. Is there a way to advocate with those ministries in Europe in advance of that? Another point will relate to funding from member states for our humanitarian response during our EU Presidency.

The Minister of State touched on debt financing earlier in response to Deputy Ó Laoghaire. The Council had a disappointing conclusion in advance of the International Conference on Financing for Development. With debt financing and the forgiveness of debt in developing countries, we create a colonial, subservient approach with many countries. Approximately 93% of the countries most vulnerable to climate crises are in debt distress, so they are using all their taxation to repay their debt rather than on their own national development. This is an area we could explore to mitigate some of the impacts of the aid cuts. It is not a catch-all solution but a rules-based multilateralism around sovereign debt that does not replicate colonial characteristics is necessary. There have been calls for a UN-led process with binding principles on responsible lending and borrowing, which is an important area we could lead on when it comes to the financing for development conference.

We all share the same horror about Gaza. A private organisation called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has been set up. Does the Minister of State know which countries are supporting it? The US doing so but some EU member states may be supporting it too. He may have information on that. I am very concerned about it as it relates to the humanitarian principles of impartiality, independence and humanity. It completely undermines our concept of what aid and humanitarianism is. I would like us to challenge that and I am very concerned about mission creep, whereby this may be just the first time we will see the privatisation of aid. It might be rolled out more generally. We cannot allow it to become the status quo.

My final point is on Ukraine. We have seen a huge issue of violence against women and girls. In all war contexts, they are the most vulnerable and at risk.

What can Ireland do to protect women and girls in the conflict in the Ukraine? The experiences they have had have been fairly obscene and horrible.