The average EU cow enjoyed a subsidy of about €1 a day, which was much more than was given in development aid to human beings, Ms Fiona O'Malley (PD, Dún Laoghaire) said.
"It is not a sustainable or desirable position that cows are valued more highly than people," she said. Change was coming, but it was far too slow.
"As Kofi Annan said, the poor in the world are poor, not because there is too much globalisation but rather because there is not enough."
Speaking during the resumed debate on the International Development Association (Amendment) Bill, she said it enabled the Government to continue its generous support for overseas development aid and to further the steps along the road to reach its stated commitment of 0.7 per cent of GNP by 2007.
Mr Tom Hayes (FG, Tipperary South) said that while he welcomed the fact that €50 million was being given to the developing world, it needed to be seen in the context of where they were at, particularly in Ireland.
"Some 1.2 billion people must eke out an existence on less than $1 a day in the world," he said.
