Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join with colleagues in welcoming our guest today. I also deplore the fact that other embassies chose not to provide participants to discuss this particularly pressing and urgent issue. It has been said and is well documented that Christians are among the most persecuted people in the world. Pope Francis recently said it also. It would have been appropriate for all the other countries that were asked to send representatives to do so.

Mr. Iginla paints a pretty grim picture of the situation that Nigeria is trying to recover from. How many people are currently officially missing or held hostage? Following on from Deputy Crowe's questions, what facilities are in place to help those who were captured recover from the appalling ordeal they have suffered?

Mr. Iginla spoke about the clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers. What do those clashes concern? Mr. Iginla said the president has charged the military with addressing the challenge of cattle rustling. How is it being addressed?