Larry Butler (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to facilitate a full debate on Ireland's EU involvement and the role it plays therein. It also is important to recognise that Ireland has contributed €914 million this year in official development aid, ODA. As Ireland is the sixth largest contributor in the EU, it is important to have a debate on this subject. Almost €46 billion was contributed last year by the 27 member states of the EU, which plays an important role in the development of Third World countries. The European Union should continue to play a leadership role in the implementation of the millennium development goals to help tackle the poverty in the Third World, intensify the battle against HIV-AIDS and maintain good governance in respect of the expenditure of donated moneys. Ireland plays an extremely important role within the European Union in helping countries that are less well off. I am glad that Ireland is playing its role in this regard. While it has been criticised in the past for not coming up to scratch, I believe it now plays its role, as well as showing leadership.

I regret that my colleague from Dún Laoghaire, Senator Regan, continues to make cheap publicity on behalf of the tribunals. It is not good enough——