Ms Caoimhe de Barra:

I will try not to repeat what my colleagues said. In response to Deputy Nash's point, there is a bigger picture and we have heard a little about the regional dynamics today. It is important to recognise that this is a complex and protracted conflict and that the issues in the conflict are at local, national and international levels.

The causes of the complex emergencies and conflict must be understood in their totality because they have to do with the distribution of power and resources within the country and beyond its boundaries. Therefore, any international approach must be comprehensive. In the past billions of dollars have been spent on the Democratic Republic of Congo trying to achieve a technical solution to what is a complex political problem. I agree with my colleagues that it is important the UN's mandate is revised and strengthened but that will be extremely difficult because of the political issues at the heart of the UN system. As we are aware, the UN Security Council finds it difficult to take hard decisions and there is also the allocation of resources from the most wealthy countries. It is difficult for those countries to send military resources into places where they will be in danger and which might not be popular among their own populations. The UN mandate, if strengthened, will make a difference but not the total difference. It needs to be supported. The role of the African Union is incredibly important because it can have credibility where external forces lack such credibility.

We have talked about the Government and the Government as a player. It is true that the Government is Kinshasa-centred and does not have credibility. It barely has control or reach beyond Kinshasa but, nonetheless, the Government was elected. The elections did not have great credibility but this is the Government that is in place. We have to look at some of the positive elements of what is happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo and put some credence and energy into trying to help those move forward. There will be elections at Senate level and, I hope, at provincial and district levels in the next two years. Some of the key issues that need to happen to help the elections would be a review of the national electoral commission to ensure the fundamental structures are in place to enable future elections to be held on a fair basis.

There are issues around the immediate humanitarian needs. Before the crisis erupted in the past week it was estimated that $721 million was needed in response to existing humanitarian needs. That amount will have multiplied within the past five to seven days. What is harder to generate is funding for recovery after the first phase of response. In terms of messages, it is important to bear in mind that while there is a need to step up political engagement through the avenues open to Ireland, we can step up the resources that Ireland can leverage from other multilateral sources where it has a stake, not only for the immediate response but the long-term recovery.

My final comment is on the role of women. I agree with all the statements on the importance of women's voices and women's power; and empowering women is fundamental to recovery in the Democratic Republic of Congo. When I was in the Democratic Republic of Congo a week and a half ago I engaged with women and men who were encouraging women to see themselves as other than second class citizens, as people who have a right to make a decision within the home and within the community and who also have a right to contribute to decision-making at a local and national level. It is interesting to note that the Democratic Republic of Congo has just passed a gender parity law which is now on its Statute Book and which technically places the Democratic Republic of Congo ahead of many countries in the more developed world. However, its implementation is critical. This is an issue I wish to put on the table for future consideration. How can Ireland support women and gender equality in the Democratic Republic of Congo in a way which will transform politics in that country?