Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

If such countries do not have to repay debts, they can use the money they save for their health and social programmes and, therefore, there is a direct return. I do not agree with including other costs, but that is a fair and legitimate cost. I do not agree with the tied aid cost or other imaginative mathematical equations used by other countries.

I thank the Deputy for his support in this area. The challenges ahead are huge. The figures are still enormous, though controls have been implemented and successes achieved in some countries. The epidemic among young parents has resulted in a significant number of orphans in sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world. Ireland has tended to concentrate its effort in Africa and this epidemic is a major problem. It will take many years of work and fighting to make progress on the drugs issue. However, Ireland is in a good position for the reasons I outlined, not least the work of our missionaries and NGOs. It is an area in which we should continue to give a leadership role.

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