Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the witnesses for coming in and for all the great work they do. First, I want to talk about Ireland's contribution to overseas development aid. Ireland, through the UN target, is supposed to give 0.7% of its GDP to ODA. As regards the money that would have been used for the Ukrainian refugees, will the witnesses outline to the committee what we are really at when that funding is taken out of the account? Does that leave us with a shortfall, and has that been refunded or have the organisations got that money back?

I am aware that the organisations' committees and sister organisations have people on the ground in Gaza. What is going on there presently?

Ireland's upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union was referred to. While much of the focus in Europe currently relates to militarisation, do the witnesses have any indication that Ireland will take the opportunity to bring a focus at a European level to global poverty, the drivers of migration such as climate crisis and war, and the recognition, which the witnesses have referred to, that investments in this regard are of strategic security import to Ireland and other member states?

Dóchas's opening statement referred to women and children. I would like to see us, with Europe and the new Presidency coming forward, keep that as a priority.