Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My comments on foreign aid are well documented. Most of the ¤623 million that will be borrowed to provide such aid next year and for which taxpayers will be liable will be paid to the United Nations, the European Union, world banks and regional banks in Africa. Ireland is sending ¤43 million to a country which purchased fighter jets. An article appeared in yesterday's edition of The Guardian in which it was stated corruption had resulted in ¤5 billion in aid being withdrawn from an African country to which the Government proposes to give ¤30 million next year. Countries in Africa must be helped in order that they might help themselves. The aid we are providing is not being used appropriately in order to assist people to help themselves. Why not just keep the 25%, suspend it for three years and give funding to our NGOs and directly to civil society organisations in Africa? The sham taking place means our money is going to world banks. If people in the Labour Party and others want to support the continuation of the process in this regard whereby there is not total transparency and accountability in the money we send in aid, that is fine. However, we should reconsider the position.

The second issue I wish to raise relates to the National Asset Management Agency. When I raised this matter last week, I received a rap on the knuckles from the head of relationship management at NAMA. This took me by surprise because I was of the view that, as an elected Member of this House, I was entitled to ask questions about semi-State organisations, including NAMA, in circumstances where particular matters were brought to my attention. I wish to clarify the position on the point I raised last week in respect of two former HSBC officials working for NAMA. What I said was factually incorrect. However, I have discovered that the position is much worse than that.