Thank you very much.
I'm going to share my time with Mr. Brown.
I just want to say that yesterday we met your ambassador, Declan Kelly, who co-hosted a reception here on the Hill as a book was being launched about Thomas D'Arcy McGee, titled Passion, Reason, and Politics,1825-1857. It was an interesting reception, and of course Declan Kelly represents your country very well.
I heard a couple of interesting comments. I'm not sure which speaker mentioned the will having come from a minister on the left of the spectrum, but when it comes to discussing poverty, I don't think there is any political right or left on this. We are all interested in tackling poverty because we will all benefit so much from the education and from all the things that come from a thriving economy.
I know that part of the reason you have been so successful is your economy. Does that change your strategy or the definition of “poverty” from when you started this strategy 10 years ago?
I also want to know, when you do sign the Lisbon agreement, what changes will that make to your strategy? Will you be setting a new direction? And picking up on what Mr. Martin said, about the levels of government here at home, how are you going to get it to the ground? What happens when you join the Lisbon agreement, if that passes? What changes will that make to your whole strategy? Will it change direction?
I don't want to take much time, because I do hope that Mr. Brown gets a question as well, but I also want to know what that market basket looked like. I heard you name a few things. Even if you could write them and submit them to the committee, it would be helpful.
Thanks.
Actually, I did have one more about your stakeholders. You said there were many stakeholders. We also want to have some of the stakeholders come.
How did they contribute positively to some of the changes in policies? We want contributions, not people saying this is what government has to give them. What did they come with as contributing factors to trying to lift people out of poverty? I'm talking about CEOs of companies, businesses, small businesses, and the trade unions you mentioned. Of course, we all know that volunteers are probably the largest asset to lifting people out of poverty, but what contribution did these stakeholders make besides having a thriving economy?
Thank you.