Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are acutely conscious of what is happening in Africa in terms of some of the investment that is going in there and the way in which it is being delivered, particularly with a tie to trade. Both Ireland and the EU try to focus on developing mutually beneficial relationships with Africa, that is, relationships that focus on the development of economic ties and sustainability, particularly in key areas such as climate on which we can work beneficially with countries. At the heart of our development policy, as it is for our EU partners, is trying to reach those furthest behind and working with them to develop their economies.

There are other countries that engage in relationships with Africa where the trading relationship and aid relationship is not based on that approach. The links are very unfortunate in terms of what is happening. At all points, whether through our membership of the Africa Development Bank Group or the international agencies we work with locally, what we consistently try to do is to ensure our aid, trade and developments relationships are based on working in a particular way that will facilitate the development of the country in question as part of our work.

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