Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is correct. I concur with the concept of what Mr. Maguire is saying. We frequently table parliamentary questions to all Departments concerning trade and interaction with African and Middle Eastern countries. There is great scope for extending business there, particularly as countries develop. As they progress the scope is much greater. My colleagues and I have asked various Ministers to try to maximise their contacts with all foreign countries with a view to expanding our business with them and increasing our exports. In addition, we should encourage their people to come here as tourists, as well as travelling abroad as tourists ourselves. With no disrespect to my colleague Deputy Brendan Smith, if we all stayed at home there would be no tourism. We cannot have that either. We need to avail of every possible opportunity and identify the products that are most likely to gain a marketing foothold in the Middle East. Mr. Maguire has already pointed out quite a number of those products. Suffice it to say that we would all concur with that concept.

We must have regard to human rights issues also. It is part and parcel of Government policy to try to ensure that the countries with which we have direct dealings recognise that we would like them to come into line and realise that human rights abuses are no longer acceptable. We must make progress in that area as well.