Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests. The presentations have been interesting. Each of the millennium development goals is praiseworthy, but unless we sort out the basic issue of hunger, nothing else can be done. If someone is hungry, he or she will not be able to attend school or work. I have limited experience of this issue in that I have visited some African countries. This time last week we were in Sierra Leone and I have been left with particular images in my mind.

The quality of teaching in many African countries is a significant issue. In Dublin I chair the board of management of a primary school. A vacancy arose unexpectedly. Last week we received 288 curricula vitae from qualified unemployed teachers. A connection could be made with teacher training colleges. All teachers would not want to take up this major role in Africa, but a number could fulfil it. As someone who was a teacher until three years ago, I was appalled that quite a number of teachers in Sierra Leone were involved in the rape of their students. It is horrific that a family member would do it, but teachers are in a position of trust. Having travelled miles to attend school to avail of an education, young girls must then face this possibility.

To mark International Day of the Girl Child I attended an event two weeks ago. Is this issue on our guests' agendas? We were conscious of the number of children having babies in Freetown in Sierra Leone. It was frightening.

On World Food Day we heard a presentation by Concern. We also heard from a man from Tanzania about land rights, including that people were giving away land for the price of a beer and so on, following which they moved on to another piece of land. He made us aware of the work ongoing in Tanzania to secure land rights.

An issue of major concern is land grabbing by multinational companies. I support the work some organisations are doing on the issue of tax injustice. Leaving aside the issue of corruption in particular governments, one conservative estimate is that €16 trillion is being lost to countries in the developing world because of the lack of country by country accounting and a blind eye is turned to tax avoidance and evasion. Ireland could play a much stronger role in calling for greater transparency in this regard.

Power in African countries appears to be vested in the President or often the government, with little or no role for Parliament. This is another issue on which Ireland could play a strong role. Communities in African countries have no voice. In Ireland community organisations have been progressive and to the fore in bringing about change. While today's discussion is focused on the issue of gender equality and the empowerment of women, communities must also have a voice. I am struck by the disconnect in certain places. While Johannesburg has first rate medical facilities, a high number of women die in childbirth. I am interested in hearing if there has been progress on the caste system. I acknowledge that many small steps are being taken. The role model idea is a good one. Each of the delegates is a good role model.

This time last week we visited a project in Sierra Leone with a particular NGO and discovered that every person in employment was a man. We had just come from meeting a group of women farmers. Given the upcoming elections in Sierra Leone, through an interpreter, I asked one woman who showed fantastic leadership qualities and was extremely feisty if she had any interest in politics. I might as well have asked her if she would consider going to the moon as to suggest someone of her farming background would even consider that possibility. As such, it is fantastic to see Ms Looloitai here today.