Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are really into an extremely serious issue then because it is State money. It is public money that is being given to individuals, and if it is being given to those individuals to invest in schemes that invest in arms, the Minister is out of line with regard to our national legislation on cluster munitions. She is out of line in that regard because it prohibits direct or indirect investment. Frankly, giving funds to an individual who is then going to invest in one of a number of consolidated schemes, which we will discuss in the context of later amendments, and to be cavalier about it is really worrying. It is extremely worrying. Are we to understand that the State is going to wash its hands completely of any of the environmental, social or governance issues, that the State does not care at all and that whatever these funds invest in is up for grabs?Can they invest in big tobacco? Genuinely, I am quite shocked. Somebody drew this to my attention over the course of the debate. I assumed our concern was simply whether we had the right mechanisms in place to ensure we were in compliance with proper ESG standards and national law, whereas the Minister is now saying these schemes do not need to be compliant. That is completely different.