Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome both witnesses and I apologise for being late but unfortunately I was detained elsewhere. I will concentrate on one area, although other areas are equally important. I was in Somalia 25 years ago with a few Members. It was one of the most devastating experiences I ever had. When I returned, I said if anyone mentions the word "poverty" to me in Ireland, I will scream. What I witnessed was unreal. When I read through the documentation for this meeting, it stated Somalia is facing a crisis again. I am worried when we discuss these countries that whether €25 million or €55 million is provided, the money is not solving the problem. The witnesses have given up their lives to look after these countries and they must be more frustrated than I am because they are at the coalface. My vivid memory, as if it was yesterday, is of walking into Baidoa where we had troops who were responsible for bringing aid from Mogadishu to Baidoa. They were protected by an Indian force that was there. No building in Baidoa had a roof on it. The doctor who dealt with the Irish troops was the only medical person in the region. It was so horrific that one could not explain it to people unless one saw it. Is our policy of doing bits and pieces in different areas the wisest policy or should we concentrate on one or two areas until they get up and running? After 25 years, one submission states, "Somalia is the most fragile state in the world". It seems that despite all the attention and all the aid, nothing has been sorted. Many of these problems are the result of the regimes in these countries, which are not being tackled. There is a flow of people trying to get into Europe and drowning in the process. The whole thing is frightening and I am lost for words.

I congratulate Mr. John Ging on the work he is doing. Can he advise us on how we should tackle these problems? Even if we were to sort out one or two regions over a period, would it be better than throwing bits here and there and not really getting anywhere? Does Mr. John Ging believe there is an urgent need to change policy or direction?