Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the witnesses for joining us. I appreciate them making the effort to come in and for taking the time. I also commend them on all the work they do for those around the world who are less well off than us. That is very much appreciated by everyone in this room.

My questions fall into three categories and I will ask them reasonably quickly as I am conscious to give the witnesses time to get into the answers. Broadly, what is the appetite for debt forgiveness and for climate reparations? How has this changed since the USAID withdrawal?

In regard to the debt itself, where are these loans from? I read somewhere - and I hope I am correct in this - that up to 40% of them are from private institutions. If that is the case, what is their appetite for debt forgiveness? I imagine these institutions are banks and funds, etc., and would be answerable to their shareholders. It would be more difficult for them than for a sovereign government to forgive debt. Do the witnesses have any comments or thoughts on that?

Are there currently interest rates on these loans? Are these countries paying interest?

If so, that perhaps should be immediately addressed and those interest rates brought to zero while the discussions elsewhere are ongoing.

Does Ireland or any Irish institution hold any of this debt?

I apologise for the quick-fire questions. What is the witnesses' position on linking debt forgiveness to climate reparations, and what steps are Irish NGOs taking to advocate this debt cancellation as part of climate justice? In particular, what are the main barriers the witnesses are meeting at an international level?

Finally, I noted that Ms Balfe mentioned earlier that the EU, among others, is pushing back against the UN global debt framework. I would like to understand why that is.

Again, I thank the witnesses for their time.