Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Like Deputy Kenny, I wish the Taoiseach well in his forthcoming address to the joint Houses of Congress. Does he intend to raise the issue of the undocumented Irish during his two planned visits to the United States?

As for the EU meeting, I refer to developments in Kosovo last weekend. Will Ireland formally recognise Kosovo? The Minister for Foreign Affairs has not made clear the exact Irish position. Has the Government considered the implications for the mandate for Ireland's participation in the international security presence in Kosovo, KFOR, which is authorised under UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999? In the absence of UN recognition for an independent Kosovo, will it be possible for Ireland to maintain a contribution to the international military presence in Kosovo, under NATO or other auspices, without a UN mandate? What timeframe has been outlined to sort out the mandate of the Irish troops? This matter is important in respect of both the troops' ability to operate if their mandate has been compromised by the changes that took place last weekend and Ireland's consequent positions on those changes.

Does the Government propose to have monitors participate in the forthcoming elections in Zimbabwe? The Government's position in this regard is unclear to me. Moreover, in respect of the trouble in Kenya, it is now agreed that more than 1,000 people are dead. A massive amount of intercommunal violence has taken place, much of which has been targeted against women and children as has happened in Darfur, including rape and sexual violence against women.

Thankfully, Ireland now is among the major contributors to international aid. While I commend the Taoiseach on his visit to southern Africa and to Tanzania, is Ireland pulling its weight with regard to the level of contribution it makes in respect of aid at present? The issue of land reform is central to the dispute in Kenya. Moreover, it is central to the historic legacy of that which has now pauperised Zimbabwe. In that unfortunate country, people no longer have enough to feed their families. Can the Taoiseach be more precise as to what he envisages Ireland doing to assist actively in decelerating such conflicts and to solving thorny issues in Africa such as land reform? Is the Government supporting initiatives that would lead to long-term real settlements? Members have only heard general stuff from the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

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