Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile telephones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference with the recording equipment even when on silent mode. I would appreciate it if mobile telephones were switched off because our meeting is being broadcast live.

Today's meeting is a very important one dealing with the issue of South Sudan. Everyone will have seen on television recently what has happened there as well as read about it in the newspapers. Today, we will meet representatives of GOAL, Concern and Oxfam to discuss South Sudan. South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan three years ago and while it is Africa's newest country, it is also, unfortunately, one of the continent's poorest countries. A combination of the consequences of years of armed conflict along with unfavourable and sometimes unseasonable weather conditions have led to a situation where there are huge humanitarian needs in that country.

Irish Aid has contributed €5 million to date in 2014 to South Sudan to support the work of the United Nations and the NGOs in the region. However, the need remains great. One of the most pressing needs in South Sudan currently is that humanitarian access is granted to all civilians, especially those displaced as a result of the ongoing conflict. At the beginning of June, the number of people reported to be displaced was a shocking 1.4 million, which is a huge number.

I am delighted to welcome three organisations, namely, Oxfam, GOAL and Concern, which have workers on the ground in South Sudan. The format of the meeting is that we will hear a brief presentation from each of the organisations followed by a questions and answers session. I call Mr. Jim Clerkin, who is very familiar to members and is the chief executive officer of Oxfam.