Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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The delegates are more than welcome. It is suggested in the presentation that the regional office appreciates the role Ireland plays with the WHO, despite being a small country. The regional office has been head hunting countries and Ireland has been mentioned. We are very proud that it has suggested Ireland could act as a champion. It is quite capable of doing so.

I also congratulate the Italians. Dr. Severoni is the second serious Italian we have had here in the past two days. We have also heard from the EU High Representative, the European Union's foreign Minister. She is a very fine woman and was most impressive. I congratulate Dr. Severoni on his role.

On the statistics given, I am surprised that 52% of immigrants are women. It strikes me that we always thought they were predominantly men. I do not know why I thought that, but I certainly did not think 52% were women. Is there an explanation for this?

It is interesting that Ireland has transformed itself in the past 30 years from being a monocultural society. We were white and Roman Catholic and that was it. Now Ireland is extremely diverse. The Government has just made 70,000 people from 120 countries Irish citizens. Citizenship ceremonies are still taking place. We see the impact at hospital level, particularly in maternity services where the health authorities have identified a particular difficulty for the children of African women. I cannot remember its name, but there are rumours or perhaps statements of fact that there is an antibiotic-resistant strain of TB. This could be exploited by those who are nervous about the influence of immigrants, but a particular problem, at least for children of African women, has been identified because of a particular strain of TB.

We are at the forefront in addressing the health issues of immigrants. Notwithstanding all of the criticism of the direct provision system, we provide an excellent medical service for asylum seekers and immigrants.

I record my appreciation of the staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Africa. In particular I highlight the role of our ambassador, who is female and her two female staff members in Sierra Leone, a country at the epicentre of Ebola outbreak and riddled with the disease. We have three very brave women in our embassy. Irish Aid has provided funding of €12 million to fight this deadly disease.

Sierra Leone is coming out of a horrendous war, where young boy soldiers in the army were engaged in terrible deeds during this war. We must applaud the work of the ambassador and her staff. None left during this period. They were offered a break and did not take it but stayed and worked. They are still engaged with the country. It is indicative of the deep engagement of the Irish embassy staff in the fight against disease.

May I ask the witnesses to comment on the situation regarding polio? The World Health Organization in conjunction with the Pakistani Government has been attempting to inoculate the children in Pakistan. Some of their health workers have suffered death as a result of rumours that the polio vaccine is doing something weird to their population. If it is a fact that health care workers who were working in the field of public health have suffered a dastardly death as a result, I would like to extend our condolences to their families.