Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I apologise to the Minister of State for not being present to hear his initial reply. Sadly, I am trying to balance committee and Dáil commitments.

The vast majority of migrants who come to Ireland do so for economic reasons. CSO figures indicate that 35,000 people from the continent of Africa are resident here. What steps are being taken to target money from the overseas development aid fund at countries from which people are migrating to Ireland and other EU member states in order that some of the economic issues arising in those countries might be resolved? We should support the development of the economies in these countries rather than, as a result of our economic circumstances, encouraging their citizens to migrate here. Would it not be better to improve the economic circumstances in their home countries rather than encourage them to come to this country to make a proper living?

See this speech in context