Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. There is no doubt they have served the military with distinction over many years. My question relates to the UN. When we saw what happened in Bosnia 30 years ago, people hoped and prayed we would never see the like again. Unfortunately, it is happening today in another country. It is sad to think that the UN's hands are tied and that it cannot get involved and stop the slaughter of nearly 80,000 people. Starving people are having to queue for food. Twenty people were shot dead yesterday while waiting to collect food and the UN's hands are tied. As people who served in the UN, the witnesses must feel frustrated that this has been allowed to happen again.

It is sad to think that four or five countries can allow this to happen to what until recently was a very successful organisation. People feel that there should be a greater involvement. I know the issues regarding the people who block whatever the UN tries to do but, in the witnesses' experience, is there any other way that some of this can be dealt with? People are sad to see what is happening and I know the witnesses are, as is every right-thinking person in the world. It is also sad, however, that the hands of the UN are tied so badly that it cannot get involved to try to resolve this.