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

I thank the Minister of State for his presentation. Having travelled to Sierra Leone, I am glad to see it listed as a new partner country. Our visit was a learning experience and I was struck by the magnitude of the task of rebuilding given the lack of essential urban services such as basic public lighting, sanitary services and footpaths. This was in stark contrast to the level of investment in the mining industry. The degree to which the lid can be kept on that level of social inequality is questionable. In the course of our new partnership with Sierra Leone, I hope Ireland and the international community address this issue. The Minister of State has also visited Sierra Leone and has seen the tremendous work being done by Sr. Mary in her schools. I also pay tribute to the work done by NGOs over many years. Our emphasis must now be on the extent to which the international community is prepared to focus on the problems of inequality in countries like Sierra Leone. We cannot allow that situation to continue unchecked for a prolonged period.

Land ownership is a serious problem on the continent of Africa. A particular problem is the way in which families are encouraged to sign over property which may contain valuable resources without adequate compensation.

To what extent is it possible to focus on the basic issues that primarily affect the most vulnerable countries, in terms of hunger, starvation, war, famine, strife, inequality and human rights abuses, in a meaningful and co-ordinated way in order to maximise the benefits for those in need of assistance?