Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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I will come back in on a couple of things. First and foremost, Mr. O'Connell has reinforced the argument for getting rid of the triple lock mechanism because as long as it is in place, we will not be able to go unilaterally into Africa and assist in peacekeeping programmes, which is something we should, as a mature nation, be able to do. Where there is a dysfunctional UN Security Council, we should be able to make our own decisions. Mr. O'Connell is 100% correct. I was at a briefing this morning, in fact, that was all about how Africa is providing peacekeeping services for Africa. We have a phenomenal record going back to the 1960s in that area and we need to rid ourselves of the shackles that prevent us from acting as a mature nation and going there.

Our guests talk about the need for Ethiopia, for example, to have a viable security force. Ireland also needs a viable security force but cannot afford it. That has to be taken in context. Defence and security are the areas in which I am most interested but I do not for one minute think that we should be taking away money from the work our guests are doing. I just want to be sure that the money they are getting is going into the right areas and that we are not propping up some goddamned warlord in some village or town. We have got to be seeing development. I was born into the agricultural society that was Ireland. The Chairman will not forgive me for saying this but thanks to Seán Lemass, we moved into the industrial age and then thanks to more recent Fine Gael Governments, we moved into the information age. Development in this country happened in steps. There was value for money and it was accounted for. We have become an extremely wealthy country and the same can apply in Africa with the right type of leadership. It bothers me that we still have warlords in some parts of that continent. I fully accept what our guests are saying. I am trying to put things in context for myself and those with whom I deal. I do not want to diminish what our guests do in any way. What they do is amazing work. I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like for Concern working in Afghanistan. I offer my congratulations to all of our guests and I thank them for the work they are doing.