Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests. What we have heard from Ms Nabagesera is frightening and alarming. The briefing papers we received from Freedom and Roam, Uganda and from Amnesty International painted a similar picture. Ms Nabagesera's contribution highlights for us the serious concern the international community should have in regard to this issue.

The question asked by the Chairman is important. We have had a very strong relationship with Uganda through the Irish Aid programme over the past number of years, and substantial amounts of Irish taxpayers' money have been transferred to different programmes there. We have been told and assured by the Department of Foreign Affairs that those funds have been put to good use and that there are good outcomes in regard to school completion and the development of much needed health services. Has Ms Nabagesera had the opportunity to speak in other parliamentary fora throughout Europe? What can we do to help apart from raise these issues through our Department of Foreign Affairs and the Tánaiste our Minister? I presume it would be worthwhile for Ms Nabagesera to speak to similar parliamentary committees in other member states of the European Union and through the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament.

The issues Ms Nabagesera has highlighted for us must be promulgated and people must learn about the desperate environment in which she works, of intimidation, censorship and harassment, and about the proposed legislation to institutionalise discrimination. This scenario is a concern and relevant parliamentary fora must be made aware of it.