Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I find myself concurring with many of the opinions expressed so I will keep my contribution short. We pay lip-service to the diaspora. The Gathering was one thing but I mentioned my embarrassment at having to rely on the French to go in and do humanitarian work in Africa.

I mention my embarrassment as an OSCE short-term oberver - as a citizen and not as a politician - seeing countries which this committee is forever condemning, such as the Ukraine or Albania, being able to facilitate their citizens, through their embassies, in voting in elections. We pride ourselves on having such a large diaspora but perhaps our embassies would not be capable of handling that. Perhaps the resources of the embassies would be insufficient to cater for areas in which there is a large concentration of the Irish diaspora. However, we must make a start. If we are to change anything about our foreign policy, it must be our attitude to the role and involvement of the Irish diaspora.

War was mentioned and I ask Professor Tonra to express his opinion on whether my interpretation of something is correct. I may be biased, having just returned from Iran, but it seems to me that most of the wars currently being waged are largely in the Islamic world. The major international conflicts are among those seeking power and influence over a region, be it Iran or Saudi Arabia. Both countries have conflicting religious bases, namely, Shi'ite Islam in Iran and Sunni Islam in Saudi Arabia, and that is having a ripple effect across the Muslim world. It has consequences for world peace as well as for Christians in Nigeria, Sudan and other areas where the borders of the Christian and Muslim worlds meet. If all these areas are in conflict - I mention the slaughter in countries such as Syria - and they centre on the power bases of Saudi Arabia and Iran, does Professor Tonra see a role for Ireland in any of this, given that we are based in the West and are a Christian country? Is there any way we could evolve our foreign policy to allow us to engage in a progressive and constructive way?

I will conclude by posing a question similar to the one I posed to Mr. Dorr earlier. I am fascinated by the Ukraine, a huge country which is enormously important to world peace. To see it split 50:50 between those who have a western inclination and those who have an eastern inclination is worrying. Does Professor Tonra think Ireland can play an independent role in the diplomatic field and engage with countries like the Ukraine? Sometimes the West sees the Ukraine as a highly divided country with something like apartheid. I am amazed at how wrong the EU's interpretation of the Ukraine is. How can Ireland, tiny as it is, extend its influence into these strange and wonderful Islamic countries? Do we have the requisite respect to be able to do that?

I will conclude by saying that I agree that our diplomatic corps is absolutely first class. However, the problem is that we have had to close several embassies on economic grounds. Will we ever have the economic wherewithal to support a further expansion into these new emerging markets all over the world? Will we be able to expand into China, with its growing middle class, and into Latin America and South America? How can we invest in the diplomatic corps to achieve the desired outcome?