Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

The Members who articulated this point, particularly the Green Deputies and my own party Members, have done so from well thought out idealism rather than a knee-jerk reaction to what has happened on the international landscape. It is hugely important that we should have a coherent response. As a country and as a people, we should not be placed in a position whereby a State investment agency is investing in companies that are facilitating genocide, as we have seen in Darfur. I share that concept totally.

As a journalist, I reported on the active Irish-American campaign on the MacBride principles. I saw the British Government's attitude to fair employment in Northern Ireland change. This was precisely because the financial controller of New York, which has the largest pension fund in the world, arrived in Downing Street and indicated unhappiness with the situation. That is one of the main reasons the fair employment legislation came into being in Northern Ireland — because the financial controller of New York applied a higher ethical standard than the British Government and others with regard to fair employment in Northern Ireland.

Pension fund investment has a real impact, so we should be strong enough to say that we are not prepared to stand over certain practices. I am glad to say that our pension fund has adopted the UN principles on responsible investment. If the Government needs to go further, it will do so. I will speak to the pension fund representatives directly in my capacity as Minister of State with responsibility for development co-operation and human rights. I intend to take this matter up directly with the agency concerned. At the moment, I am not convinced that it is doing anything wrong because it is a signatory adhering to the principles of responsible investment. However, if we need to go further I assure all Members of the House, including Deputies Woods, Carey and the Green Party Members, that we will do so. The lesson to be learned from the horrible and disgraceful genocide that has occurred in Darfur is that we will go the extra mile, if necessary.

I thank Members for their contributions to the debate.

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