Ms Jane-Ann McKenna:

Ireland has been working closely with the Department of foreign affairs over the past year or so, particularly around the MFF negotiations and the lead-up to negotiations happening now. Ireland is championing what we would like to see in human development, focusing on those furthest behind. We cannot shout loud enough in that regard because there is a real curtailing of human rights and principled overseas development assistance at a European level. It is being eroded but it is vital. We work with the Department on this and encourage it to push ahead on all avenues. In the lead-up to the Presidency, we will engage with the Department particularly on key priority areas where we believe Ireland has a voice and can bring along other EU member states.