Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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I welcome all of the delegates. I see that Mr. Abela has had a very interesting political career and been continually re-elected.

There were concerns about the murder of the journalist Daphne Galizia. I note that there was something happening in January and wonder if there is an update.

There are many concerns about the situation in the Mediterranean and Libya. They include concerns about the Libyan coastguard which is not really engaged in a rescue operation as such but which is bringing those whom it takes from the sea to detention centres in Libya. We know from a number of NGOs what conditions are like in the detention centres. Does Mr. Abela also share these concerns? There is a massive amount of money from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa going into this activity and I have considerable concerns about the fate of some of the migrants. Malta has accepted a number of migrants and I wonder how it deals with them. I know that it has had close relations with Libya dating back to before Colonel Gaddafi and his reign. Is it confident about the elections, considering that there are so many diverse groups in Libya and that the economy is in such a precarious position?

Malta has recently sent a trade delegation to Ghana. Ireland is very proud of its development aid record. Our aid is untied and poverty focused. Mr. Abela might outline Malta's role in the provision of development aid.