Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I welcome the Minister and hope he will go off script when I ask him some questions that have not been covered by him to date. I concur with the Minister, and I think the Chairman would concur also, that the embassy staff in Sierra Leone, mainly under the leadership of women, is spectacular. I join the Minister in praising the phenomenal work by that delegation. We knew about the really tough conditions there, even before Ebola hit the region. I would like our views and opinions to be added to the Minister's remarks.

I will turn now to more thorny issues, leaving Ebola aside. We should look at Ukraine and I want to ask the Minister some direct questions. As he is aware, Estonia ratified the association agreement with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. He knows the mess that has resulted in Ukraine, partly because of the EU's unsophisticated intelligence. Leaving that aside, however, has the Minister signed that agreement? He knows that Ukraine has lost the Crimea and has incredible difficulties in the east.

Moldova is in the eastern partnership with Transnistria on the border. Georgia, which confronted the Russians in the past, has South Ossetia. Does the Minister or the Government generally have any handle on understanding the mind of President Putin in Russia? That may be difficult until such time as we in Europe understand his political philosophy and if he feels threatened by Europe and NATO. There is an argument that we are now reverting rapidly back to a Cold War scenario. The Minister's opinions on that would be interesting.

The saviour of the world is the US Government. Will the Minister use his influence on the American Administration concerning what to me is the most outrageous contempt for international law? Small Irish companies are trying to establish trade links with Cuba. However, Irish banks have ceased allowing business people to use accounts for such trade because of the worldwide threat by the United States that any country daring to engage in trade links with Cuba will suffer phenomenal economic retaliation. We know how vulnerable we are to American investment in Ireland. The point that has been swept under the carpet is that one country, without the support of any international body, can determine who trades with Cuba.

We are discussing the relationship between Iran, the Baha'i and the plight of Christians throughout the world. The Baha'i have argued that there is a strong need to counter Islamophobia and I concur with them. Ireland has been transformed in such a short period from a monocultural society to a multicultural one. We have afforded Irish citizenship to 60,000 foreign nationals in the past four years. We have a hugely diverse country, including Sunni and Shia Moslems in Dublin and we want to engage with them. Is the Minister aware of the potential tensions existing on the ground between, for example, the relatively new Islamic group, Ahmadiyya, who have felt threatened since opening their mosque in Galway?

They feel that the mainstream Muslim groups are targeting them in a very threatening way.
I know that Irish Aid funds Africa Day, and it is also aware of the Diwali festival for Indians and various other ethnic festivals, including the Chinese spring festival. At this stage, however, could the Minister not recognise that rather than individual nations, such as the Chinese, Indians and others having their own days, including Africa Day, it is time for us to bring together all 120 diverse communities that exist in Ireland under the umbrella of this State and make it a wholesome, welcoming, warm, multidenominational, interdenominational, intercultural society? The Minister might use some funds from Irish Aid to that end. We do a lot of work in trying to bring peace and development all over the world, but we cannot forget what is going on in our own backyard.
I will conclude by asking the Minister one final question. He knows that we have to endorse an EU-Colombia free trade agreement. Some 18 countries in Europe have already signed it, while this country is waiting to sign it. I ask the Minister to do two things. First, he should recognise that Colombia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for NGOs, Christian groups, trade unionists, academics, sociologists and philosophers. The murder rate is phenomenal. There is a parliamentarian in Colombia who is a senator, as is the former president of Colombia. He has had strong words in their parliament about conflict and the role that former President Uribe has played in the past with terrorists. He had his security guards removed from him. There is a policy over there whereby if one's life is threatened, they will afford the person security. His name is Ivan Zapata and he is an opposition senator. I ask the Minister to use his good offices to ask the authorities in Colombia to reinstate the security he requires.
The Minister might also offer his good services, and I said this when I was in Colombia, given that President Santos is in a complex, detailed peace process which is being held in Cuba. They are dealing with issues that we ourselves have dealt with in Northern Ireland. Will the Minister agree to help the Santos government with an offer of assistance to try to work with them to create a long-term, sustainable peace process? Part of that quid pro quowould be that we would recognise the need for security. I ask the Minister to intervene on behalf of Senator Ivan Zapata.
My last question relates-----