AFTER his keynote address President Mugabe took part in a question and answer session, which covered foreign aid issues and the international campaign for a ban on landmines, as well as controversial remarks he has made about gay rights.
He regarded outside aid to opposition political parties in African nations as unacceptable outside interference.
Of aid agencies, President Mugabe said that they should cooperate better with African governments, while recognising that NGOs have in the past come to the rescue of certain countries, including Zimbabwe.
In some situations, he said, a number of agencies were trying to do the same job as the government. He asked: "Is it not better to co ordinate work?"
He also criticised "mischievous agencies" which gave aid to opposition parties and wanted "to play politics".
"We think that is an interference with the internal affairs of the country," he said.
Replying to a question from the director of Trocaire, Mr Justin Kilcullen, he added that indigenous NGOs sometimes have a party political agenda.
Irish agencies were last night more welcoming of Mr Mugabe's remarks on landmines, which, he said, have sadly left thousands of Africans "disformed and disabled".
"We will be party to any measures the world can agree to regarding the banning of landmines... the banning of the production of landmines is a good thing for the world".
The Zimbabwean President was also asked for his views on how African countries with a communist past, such as Mozambique, can make the transition to democracy.
Mr Mugabe said that all governments should lend their assistance on a continuous basis. He said Mozambique had experienced a radical transformation in the past decade.
Zaire has also seen improvements, he said. However, he, added: "Peace alone will not bring about any real change to be an appreciation by the government of Zaire that . . . (political) change will follow any truce.
The auditor of the UCD Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Society, Ms Megen Stewart, asked whether Mr Mugabe would like to apologise to gay people in Ireland for comments on gays and lesbians he made in the Zimbabwean parliament.
He reiterated his views: "Gays can never even as something we approve of in Zimbabwe".
Referring to his early education he said he had been a student under Irish Jesuit missionaries "who taught me the Bible". His response received applause from a small number of people in the audience.
Mr Peter Sutherland rejected criticism from the floor that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) does not promote enough fair trade in the global market. Given the number of developing countries lining up to join the body, he said, "I don't think there is any apology due for the World Trade Organisation."
He added that he did not support conditions laid down by international organisations which required cutbacks in health and education. He said a "human and physical infrastructure" needed to develop in order to have economic growth.