Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome and thank the guests for appearing before the committee to give us the benefit of their knowledge in the area. On the issue of aid, can we be reassured that those for whom the aid is intended goes directly to them with the minimum of interference or disruption and that is reinforced from the point of view of raising aid in donor countries? It is most important that is emphasised. What is the most effective way of using all possible areas of influence to try to bring about an interruption of the violence and recognition of an attempt being made to avert a famine in the future? Is it the threat of an international war crimes tribunal, for example, in the case of Mr. Taylor in an adjoining jurisdiction? What is the possibility of arresting the downward progress in its tracks because that appears to be an ongoing issue, in one location this year, in another location next year and in another location elsewhere. Nobody appears to have any respect for the international community or the international community itself has not exerted its influence in a way that is sufficiently convincing. The reason for that is that there are no consequences for perpetrators of that nature Notwithstanding the fact that there may well be historical reasons for wars and internal wars, the obvious way to bring issues to a conclusion is by way of negotiation or peaceful means. When will that happen and what is the best way to tackle it? I know I am asking a question that has been asked of the witnesses many times previously but I am looking forward to their response. I have long held the view that the international community does not exert its influence. It does not have any authority in many of the regions and because it has no authority there is no respect for it. Ultimately, there will be no respect, effectively, for what donor countries are doing. They are actually feeding the starving population in a country that is ravaged by war which is an indirect reassurance, so to speak, that the fighting men can continue to fight on and wreak on all kinds of destruction on the community and then the international community will try to help feed the people in the absence of anything else. I do not know the answer but from an international point of view we need to come to some conclusions in that area and the sooner the better.