Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Andrews mentioned our visit to the south east of Turkey. I am sure I also speak for the Chairman when I say that the stories we heard there were very grim, harrowing and depressing. I compliment the commitment and energy of GOAL staff in the area and admire the way they keep going in spite of the very difficult situation they face. I also must acknowledge the Syrian people, whom we met living in very difficult circumstances, and the efforts of Syrian civil society groups to help their citizens. This is another crisis which has slipped off the agenda. I do not know where Gaza is at this stage. It was a major crisis last summer and we seem to be limping from one crisis to another.

I want ask a question about the progress GOAL was making in Sudan before the current crisis, and the programmes it was running after the civil war in which 2 million people were killed. Progress was being made but now it seems we have taken two steps forward and four back. The programmes were working very successfully but where are they now? Is GOAL diverting its energy into the latest crisis rather than towards its former programmes which had been working?

Earlier this morning a number of us met a research student who outlined the staggering financial costs of the war in South Sudan, which run to billions. We can only imagine what life could have been like for those people without the conflict. Why is there no political will to address it? Is this driven by the oil industry and the massive profits being made there? Is there something this Government can do to bring transparency to the financial affairs of the oil industry? No pun is intended but somebody is fuelling this conflict and somebody is selling arms to the various groups involved. We must look at the humanitarian aspect of the situation but we must also devote attention to the question of who is keeping this war going and whose interest it is in to do so. It is certainly not in the interest of the ordinary Sudanese people.

It is dreadful to think of the young British lad who died recently. A young Irish friend of mine is working in Juba at the moment with one of the smaller aid agencies but people like him are taking their lives into their hands by working over there. Along with Deputy Mitchell, I would like the witnesses to state what they want from this committee, the Department and the Minister.