Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Development cooperation needs to be people-centred and respond to national priorities. Promoting national ownership is one of the key principles of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. Ireland believes that national ownership is essential to the success of development, especially in reaching the furthest behind first.

Ireland also recognises that Parliaments have a critical role to play in overseeing and scrutinising national development programmes to reduce poverty, build democracy and ensure national ownership.

The 2020 OECD DAC (Development Assistance Committee) Peer Review of Ireland found that ‘a long-lasting commitment to engaging in partnerships is the trademark of Irelands’ development co-operation”. The Department of Foreign Affairs continues to promote the important principle of partnerships with local Parliaments in developing countries. The Department supports programmes to strengthen legislatures ability to scrutinise national development efforts, and to more effectively fulfils its constitutional mandate.

All eleven of Ireland’s Missions in Sub Saharan Africa with responsibility for managing aid programmes, have a strong focus on ensuring that essential services including health, education, and social protection are targeted at those who are furthest behind in the poorest communities. The national strategies supported by the aid programme have all been scrutinised and passed by national Parliaments.

In addition, the aid programme has supported the development of Parliamentary capacity for oversight of budgets and other issues. For example, last year Irish Aid provided funding to the African European Parliamentarians Initiative (AEPI), to advance development issues within Parliaments in a number of countries, in Europe and in Africa. This is intended to foster collaborative action in areas such as capacity building, transparency and accountability, peace and security, and global health.