Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Walsh. We have had a most interesting conversation this morning. As Deputy Eric Byrne has said, we are very proud of the work that the ambassador and her team do, particularly in Sierra Leone and the surrounding areas. In her address she spoke about the huge challenges and risks. Obviously we are proud that we now have an embassy there and it is no longer just a programme country for us. We now have relations with Sierra Leone and those relations have to encompass more than what we are doing at the moment. Obviously there is also trade potential in that country.

Dr. Walsh has dealt with the questions in a very comprehensive manner. We wish her well in her role as ambassador and also her team. We also wish all the NGOs that are there well. I know GOAL has a presence there, as, I believe, does Concern. They are all there so I do not want to leave out any NGO. They are all there doing their bit to try to combat this disease, that just took the whole world by storm. As Dr. Walsh said, it is now down to three countries. I know she is still concerned about Guinea but hopefully in the coming months Liberia and Sierra Leone can be declared Ebola free.

The media continually move on to a different story. It is only when an infected European person comes home that the media focus recommences, as we have seen in recent months in the UK, Spain and the US.

I again thank Dr. Walsh. We look forward to continuing the dialogue on a different occasion. We were made aware of the great work done by Dr. Walsh and the other Irish missionaries. She spoke about Sr. Mary and I believe I also saw a television programme about her last year. There are other missionaries throughout the region who are doing equally good work. I wish Dr. Walsh a safe journey back to Freetown. I do not know if they have improved the connection service between the airport and Freetown.