Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

178. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on Ireland's contributions at the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development which was held in Seville recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40568/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I headed Ireland's delegation to the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, which was held in Seville between 30 June and 3 July, 2025.

I delivered Ireland’s National Statement, which focused on the role of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in supporting the poorest and most vulnerable countries, the importance of strengthening Domestic Resource Mobilisation, and the need to continue to address the persistent debt challenge facing many developing countries. I also participated in a range of meetings and side-events focused on the challenge of financing our goals in international development in the current uncertain international environment and the need to revitalise progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, on which progress has seriously faltered as we approach 2030.

Events I spoke at included meetings organised by World Vision Ireland on Putting Children First and by Oxfam on A Transformed International Development Cooperation to Fight Inequalities and Finance Global Justice. Ireland also sponsored an informal ministerial dialogue on Climate Finance for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

I also held a range of bilateral meetings with counterparts from other countries and with senior figures in international development.

In all my meetings, I emphasised that the Government is maintaining Ireland's commitment to ODA and noted the commitment in the Conference final outcome document for developed countries to undertake sustained efforts to reach the long-standing target of 0.7 per cent of ODA/GNI to developing countries.