Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

We passed legislation which gave them the authority, independent of Government, to control and manage the fund of investment. The fund is a founder signatory to the principles of responsible investment launched by the UN Secretary General in April last. It is committed to a process of change that would enable it to take account of ethical questions in its investment decisions.

The fund is now going to considerable expense to ensure scrutiny and oversight when it comes to these particular issues. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, met with the Sudan Divestment Campaign on 9 November and with the National Pension Reserve Fund on 14 December 2006 to give a political view on this issue.

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