The issue I want to address today is Ireland's development aid policy, particularly because three international conferences are coming up between now and December. I acknowledge our aid programme and the work of Irish Aid and the NGOs and missionaries who work in very difficult circumstances and sometimes very dangerous situations. A recent report commissioned by Trócaire affirms Ireland's place as one of the best when it comes to aid because our aid is untied. Increasingly this untied aid is coming under threat because donor countries now want to benefit. We are seeing aid flowing through the private sector in the form of procurement contracts for goods and services, the vast majority for firms from rich countries. We are seeing self-interested development. This indicates a need for greater policy coherence to prevent human rights abuses and corruption.

The three conferences will be held in Addis Ababa on financing for development, in New York on sustainable development goals and in Geneva on climate change. Ireland will participate in all three and play a particular role in preparing and co-facilitating one of them. The conference in Addis Ababa on financing for development must produce a clear and comprehensive agreement. My question is on Ireland's role at that conference. There is a need for a senior Government figure to attend. While it is not a pledging conference, will we recommit to honouring the 0.7% of GDP and how we will do this by 2020? We could then be a voice for this commitment from other countries. Will Ireland support the calls for an intergovernmental tax body under the auspices of the UN which could really tackle tax evasion, tax avoidance and illicit tax flows all of which contribute to poverty and inequality? What is being proposed by the OECD will not address these needs. It is vital that the conference in Addis Ababa gets it right and Ireland can play a strong role there. If it does not get it right the other two conferences on sustainable development goals and climate change will be meaningless.

This is a very important issue that has been raised by the Deputy. As I understand it, the conference in Addis Ababa is really about pledging for funding, which will be an important element. It was raised with me by the chairman of the World Bank when he was here. The Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Sherlock, normally attends these occasions and, to be honest, I am unsure who is attending on behalf of the Government, although there will be a representative there in any event. The Uachtarán will attend the September meeting in New York and I expect to be there for a short period at that development goal conference. The third meeting, in Paris, is on climate change, and takes place in December.

Following the Pope's encyclical, there is a new impetus about this and what it means for countries. I hope the political process will respond, and I know that in our own case, as a small country, we would like to be able to have targets that we can actually achieve. We face a real challenge in this respect because the targets set for Ireland for 2020 were based, in my view, on inadequate evidence and scientific information in the first place. If the process continues from 2020 to 2030 on that basis, whatever Government represents our country in that period will be subject to enormous fines of €5.5 billion or €6 billion. We have consent from the European Council in respect of the agri-profile that we have here, which will allow us in some small way to be better able to compete towards achievable targets. Given the change in the economic position here over the past number of years, while Ireland was very much on track to achieve the required levels to contribute to those goals, the process has become somewhat stunted. It is obviously a matter that the Government can consider as we prepare for the October budget and decide how that can be best reflected.

I will see to it that we have a representative at the conference. If it is not Deputy Sherlock, it will be a senior representative - a Minister or Minister of State, if possible - who will go to Addis Ababa. The Uachtarán will attend in New York and I hope to be there as well. There is also the meeting in Paris dealing with issues to do with climate change. This is an important consideration and possibly worthy of a Dáil debate here at an appropriate time.

Well said.

I would be happy to accommodate all Deputies in that regard.

That is welcome, as the consequence if Ireland and other countries do not have a strong voice at Addis Ababa will be a continuation of the draining of phenomenal amounts of money from countries of the global south. This is because of financial flows, tax injustice and the cost of climate change. Financial transparency and accountability, which equates to country-by-country reporting, is vital. Globalisation has allowed the multinationals to dodge their tax obligations. Ireland can be a voice at Addis Ababa. It is welcome that the sustainable development goals will cover all countries, as there is certainly much unfinished business from the millennium development goals, which did not help those who are poorest, or women and children.

Climate change is the topic in Geneva, and the Taoiseach mentioned the Pope's Laudato si'. On Monday and Tuesday, there was a climate change conference in Maynooth. We know the relevant issues are pollution, waste and reduced biodiversity, which all contribute to climate change, which means that inequality and poverty will continue. My question referred to our climate change Bill, although it does not mention climate justice, which is so important. Nevertheless, in 2013, at the climate change conference hosted by the Government, the Government supported the principle of climate justice. I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that our climate change Bill will include the principle of climate justice, as otherwise we could be accused of hypocrisy; we would be saying one thing on the international stage but something very different nationally.

Pledges were made by countries before, in Copenhagen and other locations, that were not followed through on. The matter has moved on and the vast majority of governments are now acutely aware of their responsibilities. Certainly, at the European Council this issue comes up on a very regular basis, with clear priorities to be followed. That is why we have our own challenges to be faced here.

The Deputy mentioned pollution, waste and biodiversity. There are some extraordinary innovations in new technology to deal with elements of this, and the more that can happen the better. Some of those innovations have been pioneered in Ireland. The climate Bill did not set out specific targets because it goes as far as 2030 or 2050 and objectives were set out clearly. I do not object to having climate justice referred to in this matter. A former President, Dr. Mary Robinson, has been very vocal on this and I have spoken to her about her particular interest in the area.

Ireland will play its part as much as it can. We will contribute where we can and we must challenge ourselves in measuring up and being recognised as a country that really is fulfilling obligations in respect of climate change and the other elements of these three discussions. I will ask the Whip to make arrangements so that Members can have an opportunity to have their say on this in the House, and I hope that can happen before we leave for the summer recess.