Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

I am grateful for the Minister's reply. There is no difference between the Minister and I on the volume or quality of Irish aid in response to recent events in Haiti. However, I would like to ask about a co-ordinated response at EU level.

Between 1830 and 1947, Haiti paid reparations to slave owners through the banking system in Paris. The removal of Jean Bertrand Aristide from power in 2003 had the support of President Chirac. President Aristide, on behalf of the people of Haiti, had asked for the return of $21.7 billion that had been paid by people in Haiti to former French slave owners. I have been concerned at the amnesia that has happened in respect of the people in Haiti. It is being suggested that they are just unfortunate people in a hurricane and earthquake prone region. The fact is that the country was exploited by France, thousands were killed in the 1930s by the US, and they had to get rid of the British.

Is the Minister asking at EU level for the Swiss Government to accede to the opening of what I call dictatorship accounts? The Duvalier family, who were dictators for 30 years, stand to benefit to the extent of $5.7 million, at a time when the people they robbed are starving. Will there be an Irish request for a common position at EU level? The Minister has stated that no such common position exists, and this might not be unrelated to the French participation in extracting payments for the benefit of slave owners.

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