Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy notes, EU’s review of development aid has now been completed. I welcome, in particular the review’s conclusion -as we had expected- that the Commission’s existing controls and safeguards work well and that there is no evidence that funding has been diverted for unintended purposes.

Ireland also has robust safeguards in place to ensure that our overseas development aid is used for its intended purposes and that it is not misused. Comments suggesting otherwise are inaccurate.

The focus of the Government's development and humanitarian assistance has been, and will continue to be, on capacity building in key sectors and in meeting the needs of the most vulnerable Palestinian communities, including Palestinian refugees in neighbouring countries. Ireland's work in Palestine focuses on education, capacity-building of Palestinian institutions, reducing humanitarian need, promoting gender equality, and good governance and human rights.

We remain supportive of our trusted partners in their efforts to deliver needs-based humanitarian and development aid in the most difficult conditions, while we continue to press for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, and the protection of civilians, as a prerequisite for a credible political process.

I welcome the increase in EU humanitarian support to the Palestinian people to €100 million. Ireland has also committed an additional €22 million in humanitarian assistance since October for Palestine.