Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I wholeheartedly agree with the Deputy but Irish Aid already funds the Irish Missionary Resource Service, IMRS, to the tune of €14 million this year. That funds 1,500 missionaries in the field. Irish Aid officials are discussing this with the Department of Social and Family Affairs which carries primary responsibility for the provision of pensions and other social welfare entitlements. The IMRS is also involved in these discussions. With such a large allocation to the missionary services, distributed to approximately 80 distinct organisations, it should be possible for the three of us to achieve what the Deputy seeks. My colleague Deputy Kitt has raised the same issue.

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