Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

This gentleman is a former member of the Irish Defence Forces and his promotion highlights the good name of Ireland and the reputation we have achieved throughout the world in the area of peacekeeping. Mr. Ging is ideally qualified for his new position and I wish him well in it and congratulate him on behalf of all the people of the country.

Before I move on to the other issues debated at the Council meeting, I would like to point out that the documentation supplied to us regarding the outcome of Council meetings is pathetic. I had to get on to the Whip's office this morning to try tp find information on the other issues, but nobody came back to me on that. What, for example, does the statement that the European Council welcomes the first progress report presented by the high representative of the European Union in relation to its strategic partners mean? What is in that report? We need information and that was what the Lisbon treaty was supposed to ensure.

I would like to highlight the problems in Haiti. I do not know whether the issue of Haiti was debated at the European Council. What is happening in Haiti is disgraceful. Billions of euro have been committed to Haiti, but the situation there is a disaster. There are 450 peacekeepers in Haiti, but there should be 4,500 there to help the police force. Some 4,000 prisoners escaped from prison in Haiti due to the earthquake. These people are rambling around causing havoc through rape and the destruction of the reputations of innocent people. Every type of criminal one can think of is wandering about the streets of Haiti, making life impossible for ordinary people. There are no structures in place to deal with the issues. Will the Minister of State ask the high representative to do something to awaken the world to the need to provide proper peacekeepers to that part of the world who can implement a plan that will bring about normal living standards for ordinary people? The situation is disgraceful. I saw a programme on television recently that demonstrated what is happening there and it would be worth everyone's while to look at some of the programmes that have highlighted the situation there. I ask for Europe to do something about it. I hope the High Representative will proceed with the concept of having a proper civil corps that will allow volunteers to go and help.

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