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

I will not take too much time.
I congratulate Dr. Hashemi on his presentation which I have read. I apologise that I did not get here in time to hear him. I have two or three brief questions because I will need to leave to go to the House.
What are the origins of the problem? What motivates people in western society, living in comfortable and safe surroundings, to become involved in a war? Are the reasons political or religious or a combination of the two? Is it a product of modern telecommunications? Fifty or 100 years ago communication was by letter or newspaper. I am a keen student of history. Abraham Lincoln decided on the abolition of slavery when things were going wrong in the American Civil War. It marked the turning point, was the holy war and the cause célèbre. What is the cause célèbremotivating people in western society to live a dangerous life and become radicalised? What is driving them to do this?
Dr. Hashemi referred to the American intervention in Iraq and its withdrawal from that country. He also referred to the international intervention in and withdrawal from Libya. I agree entirely that it is a critical issue because it leaves behind a society that is not ready, when it does not have the support to carry on and is not capable of doing so.
How does our society support the moderates? We cannot declare peace or do anything that will force people to come to the negotiating table. People who wear masks and hoods cannot be identified and, therefore, prosecuted. How can we deal with this aspect of the matter? How do we prevent the funding of an ongoing war when those creating the problem have access to oilfields and associated revenue?