David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I will be brief. I welcome all the representatives here today and thank them for their presentations, their time and the work they do. I also want to be associated with the comments about Gaza and what is happening there. It is absolutely appalling and shocking. That has been said already by many of us. We wish for a ceasefire and an end to that conflict. Also to our friend from Sudan, we wish him and his people well. What is happening in his country is horrific as well and we all want it to stop. War, no matter where it happens, is dreadful. It is the worst thing that could be imagined by anybody.

Can I ask one or two brief questions? When I look at Africa I see huge potential as a continent. There is huge energy and massive potential. I notice in some parts of the world, the population is ageing but I am told that in Africa, the population is going to go from 1.49 billion this year to 2.49 billion in 2050. The population is going to grow enormously if the projections are correct. Having young people is fantastic. They are innovative. We have talked about education and about universities and transfers, technology and so on. Given that growth in population and given climate challenges as well, what is happening in the countries to prepare for that growth in population? That is the first question.