Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

Did the Minister of State have the opportunity to see the recent television programmes about Haiti, particularly the programme dealing with the damage caused by escaped prisoners, of whom there are 4,000 and who have been convicted of all sorts of terrible crimes, including murder? These prisoners have caused havoc in the various shelters and temporary cities that exist in Haiti. My understanding is that only 450 peacekeeping troops are available to work with the police and round up these 4,000 people, who are causing havoc.

Is the Minister of State aware of a report presented to the EU Parliament by the Commission in November 2010? The report said experienced volunteers involved with the earthquake in Haiti confirmed the need for skilled and rapidly deployable volunteers as an immediate response to the emergency and also spoke of the possibility of using less skilled volunteers for auxiliary functions. The report went on to say the majority of volunteers used by agencies in Haiti were paid, either by companies or governments. Unskilled volunteers who arrived en masse during the early days with good intentions were less effective and, in some cases, even disruptive.

I raise this because I have been pressing for some time for Ireland to establish a civilian corps of skilled people, many of whom are unemployed at present. There is also, I understand, a desire on the part of the EU Commissioner for a skilled civil corps to be established.

Will the Minister of State take an active role at EU level to press forward with this proposal? There are far better ways of using our money to get proper results than continual statements that, through Irish Aid, we are giving grant aid. I would like to see personnel, who are at present unemployed, used in a proper constructive fashion.

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