David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for leaving, I had to go to a vote. I wish to reciprocate the good wishes of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, and his staff. I have been on this committee since it started and I cannot remember a foreign affairs Minister who came in so frequently and dealt so comprehensively with issues. We are grateful indeed to the Tánaiste for it. I have a number of questions but I will be as succinct as I can.

One question is about Sri Lanka, a matter, I gather, which did not come in to the review. There is a situation relating to Mr. Jeyasundaram, who is an Irish citizen married to an Irish woman, Deirdre. The situation seems to be getting more extreme there with the concentration of greater and greater powers in the hands of the President and his family. I wonder whether pressure is continuing to be applied.

I am pleased that the question of the Middle East, the so-called peace process and the less and less likely two-state solution was brought up. There is a great deal of smoke and mirrors in this. The Israelis released 52 political prisoners but at the same time they snatched a further 550, ten times the number they released. I am glad that Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan visited Israel. Two of my colleagues from the other House accompanied her. They travelled at their own expense and initiative. They are greatly to be commended on this. They became aware of a situation in which I am keen for the Tánaiste to take a particular interest, that is, the attempted ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Palestinian people. These are quite primitive farmers, with no real political axe to grind, around Hebron in villages such as Susya and Twaneh. I hope that we will take an interest in these because there is a real principle at stake. This is real ethnic cleansing going on at the instigation of the Israeli Government. Unless we keep a spotlight on it, that government will be successful and will win that principle. I believe that would be a disaster.

While I am on the matter, I will ask a question which, even with his diplomatic talents, the Tánaiste may find impossible to answer. However, I believe it is important and I have been keen to ask it for some time. Does the Tánaiste find the efforts of his colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, who appears to have taken a position of de facto Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, of assistance in this area? Are they co-ordinated with his Department?

One element that seems to have been left out of the Syria situation and which I am concerned about is the fate of children. There are at least 250,000 children there. They are in a desperate situation. They have been forced to work at a very early age, they have no real proper education and their medical needs are not looked after. I am keen for some concentration on that question.

We all welcome the release of the three women in Egypt. I imagine the Department played a role in this. I hope pressure will be kept up because I understand the brother is still in captivity, or at least he was when I last heard about it. With regard to China, I hope that Tibet will never be allowed to slip off the agenda because there are increasingly worrying signs coming from there.

I hope my final point is not outside the realm of the thing because I have a broken-down car that I have to attend to and, therefore, I may be unable to stay for the whole meeting. I understand that the Department is undergoing a review of embassies and staff.