Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the ambassador and thank him for his presentation. Like the Chairman, I wish to put on the record the outrage of the Irish people, which was expressed by the Government and political leaders, concerning the recent appalling attack on an innocent university population in Kenya. Ireland joined with the international community in condemning that outrage.

The ambassador's presentation clearly demonstrates the huge challenges facing Kenya as regards security issues. He will be aware of the international commentary about the Kenyan Government's responses, including the negative comments on particular measures that the Kenyan Government has implemented. These include the bombing of camps in southern Somalia and the decision to erect a fence along the entire Kenyan-Somali border. In addition, there has been criticism of the lack of a strategy to reach out to and engage with communities in the fight against terrorism.

There has also been considerable comment on the need for the Kenyan Government and people to ensure there is no further alienation of the considerable Somali Muslim population in Kenya. A strategy is required to deal with any possible further radicalisation of various communities.

The ambassador might take an opportunity to elaborate on how he sees the actions and the measures taken by his government and how it will deal with those obvious issues.

One other issue of importance is the work of civil society organisations in Kenya. The ambassador will be aware more than any of us of the considerable contribution made by international organisations. Some of our non-governmental organisations have sister organisations working in Kenya and there is some concern in regard to the implementation of the Public Benefits Organisation Act. I think the organisations working there are anxious that there would not be an unrealistic cap put on the level of expenditure and programme activity that they can involve themselves in because Kenya is the headquarters of many non-governmental organisations for their work in Somalia and South Sudan. As we all know, civil society organisations play a very important role, particularly in countries where there is major conflict, terrorism or where there have been humanitarian issues and disasters. I would like to get an assurance from the ambassador that the implementation of the Public Benefits Organisation Act will not hinder the very good work undertaken by those organisations. Part of the purpose of the implementation of this Act is greater accountability and transparency. That is an issue we all agree with but that should not be a method of closing down some of the valuable and very important work of those organisations.