DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES:THE LISBON Treaty's provisions relating to overseas development and humanitarian aid have the potential to improve the lives of people in the developing world, representatives of Ireland's leading development agencies told an Oireachtas committee yesterday.
However, EU member states must ensure effective implementation of the provisions, they said.
Director of Trócaire Justin Kilcullen, chief executive of Concern Tom Arnold and Hans Zomer of Dóchas, the umbrella group representing 39 overseas development NGOs, presented submissions on the treaty to the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs.
All three stressed that while they were not advocating a Yes or No vote on the treaty, they welcomed many of the principles relating to overseas development and humanitarian aid.
"The Lisbon Treaty clearly states that the reduction and eradication of poverty is the primary objective of the EU's development policy," said Mr Arnold. "The treaty also creates for the first time a legal basis for EU humanitarian aid. This . . . provides the basis for Europe to play its part in the various international initiatives to improve the co-ordination of humanitarian aid."
Mr Kilcullen said there was "broad consensus" among the 1,600 members of Concord, a European development NGO network of which he is president, that the treaty has "a lot of positive potential". Along with the other speakers, he stressed the need for policy coherence, arguing that too often the EU appears to be "essentially negating the positive effects of its aid" by actions in other policy areas.
Mr Zomer echoed the other speakers in calling for the retention of an EU commissioner for development to ensure "a clear focus and strong political voice".
The three committee members present - Fine Gael TD Pat Breen, Senator Terry Leyden and Fianna Fáil TD Noel Treacy - pressed the speakers on why their organisations had not taken an official position on the treaty.
Mr Kilcullen said it would be "overstepping our mandate", while Mr Arnold said it would "in effect involve party political alignment".