Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Tánaiste's approach on Syria and I urge him to continue with caution. We could end up replacing one totalitarian regime with another.

I have concerns about Bosnia. When Croatia accedes to the European Union, a significant trading partner of Bosnia will be affected. There will be almost ruinous effects on farming and a huge loss of income to Bosnia. The country needs a lot of support economically and politically. Are there any initiatives at EU Council level to meet any void that will be created as a result of Croatian accession?

Boko Haram, which I have raised before, in Nigeria is a sectarian organisation that targets innocent civilians. Is that on the EU agenda and, if not, could it be put on the agenda?

I compliment the Tánaiste's efforts on the Human Rights Council and Ireland's election to it. That is positive for the country. Will the Tánaiste consider using our position on that, and I welcome the Tánaiste's remarks on the DRC and violence against women, to campaign to outlaw and eradicate gendercide in a number of countries? It is happening in China, which now has a demographic problem as a result, and it is rampant in India and other places. I cannot think of anything that devalues the status and importance of women more than gendercide.

My final question is nearer to home. We all saw and regretted what happened in the North of Ireland. Enormous efforts were made to put the peace process in place so I am concerned about the situation with Marian Price. I have raised this with the Secretary of State at the British Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body. There is also the issue of Gerry McGeough and the prisoners in Maghaberry being on dirty protest. I am concerned this could fester and lead to more people being attracted to the sort of campaigns we saw in the last 30 years. I urge the Tánaiste to play whatever role we can in getting the British to deal with those issues. I understand Gerry McGeough will be released in January but should anything happen to Marian Price, who is very ill, while she is in captivity, it will be used emotively to attract people into activities we should be trying to avoid.

We should seek to avoid opening up any such avenues.