Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I welcome that. I also make the point that there are competing interests for that money. This may be a factor in what is happening in the United States. There is considerable lobbying of Irish-American representatives, who are key to ensuring the insertion of the funding. Others may be looking at ending the funding stream for the IFI with a view to getting some of the funding for their own activities and purposes. What is required is a singular lobbying focus by the Government to ensure that funding for the International Fund for Ireland continues. The IFI has developed a new mandate to target its efforts exclusively on hard to reach communities. The rationale for its continuation is a narrow targeted focus in the future. That is my view. Others are trying to queer the pitch and to get a slice of the funding for their own projects.

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