Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

On a number of issues raised by the Deputy, I put forward very clearly Ireland's record and the late Deputy Frank Aiken's work, in particular, on non-proliferation, and our continuing belief in those policies. I am very proud of the Irish people in India, both the NGOs I met and the religious who have spent their lives there working with the poor. We visited some of their schools, hospitals and outreach bases. The Department of Foreign Affairs through its programmes has helped a number of schemes there, which is much appreciated. Many of the Irish religious have worked in India through the years against a high level of suspicion about their role. They have worked extremely hard in establishing some of the best schools, hospitals and orphanages. No doubt there is mass poverty in India. A middle class and working class is being consolidated which is generating the incomes necessary for the population. It is, however, a full democracy. It is to the country's great credit that it is able to operate a democracy with 1.1 billion people, without any restrictions on childbirth or other issues, while taking on the challenges it does.

There are opportunities in the film industry. It is where the action is, currently, and is being outsourced from there. It is not just Indian producers. Everybody is in there and if the incentives are right, there are definite opportunities. The Minister has made valuable contacts, as have the Irish film industry representatives who accompanied him and I know they will follow through in the months ahead.

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