Mr. David Regan:

The Cathaoirleach also asked whether there was an EU special representative for the region. There is an EU special representative for the Horn of Africa. She was here in Ireland a year or so ago. She met with us. I did not get the sense that there was enough focus on the region from the EU at a political level. That is what I took from the conversation.

From an Irish perspective, looking at the reality of that region, its proximity to Europe and the responsibility we have from a humanitarian perspective, it is a region in which we should play a role. There is no doubt that there are other actors who are not neighbouring countries who are playing a significant role there. We need to recognise that. As Ms de Barra has touched on, as a country that is respected and whose humanitarian voice is recognised, Ireland's voice is significant. We also have a role in the EU to push the political agenda in that domain and to refocus the European foreign policy agenda a little bit.