Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I will not detain the House unduly on what is a housekeeping matter. While an interesting and worthwhile debate was held in the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, it would be useful to discuss these important matters on the floor of the House, not least given the challenges the Tánaiste and Minister of State will face in protecting and maintaining the current, necessary level of overseas development aid.

On our role in Europe, has the Minister of State discussed with her counterparts in the European Union how we can collectively move to protect the level of overseas development aid in these difficult times? Has she found a means of challenging wealthier but much less generous member states to increase their contribution to development aid in order that it is on a par with the contribution of citizens of this State who are highly committed to this issue?

It was a great achievement to publish the Africa strategy initiated by the Minister's predecessor, Deputy Martin. It is very positive and a recognition of the potential Africa offers that 140 Irish companies were represented at the strategy's launch. Does the Minister of State agree that it was also positive that none other than Mr. Gay Mitchell, one of the presidential candidates, highlighted this issue today as one of his objectives in the event that he is elected President?

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