Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the ambassador and our distinguished visitors, particularly the students from Finglas, whom I compliment on making contact with the committee and encouraging us to keep this issue at the top of our agenda. One can only imagine the awful situation experienced by the parents and siblings of the young girls who are missing and the urgent need to address the problem. Other speakers have referred to the fact that in the early stages it appeared that the government was slow to react to the abduction of these children. How significant is the publicity and media attention in Nigeria given to the fact that so many school children are missing?

I appreciate that the ambassador cannot comment much on operational matters and what is being done within Nigeria regarding negotiations and discussions. Is consideration being given to taking up the offers of assistance by the many countries which want to help Nigeria to address this issue? I am very encouraged by some of the statistics the ambassador has given for the growth of universities and the numbers of women pursuing third level education. Is there a link between this issue and Nigeria's human rights record which is not particularly wonderful? I am thinking of legislation that has been passed on same sex marriage and civil unions and the treatment of members of the gay community. Are there underlying issues, as well as an attempt to prevent the education of women in Nigeria?

What would the ambassador like this committee and the Irish Government to do to assist Nigeria in bringing about a resolution of this issue and helping to have the girls returned to their families as a matter of urgency?