Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I did not see the programmes but I am keeping a very close eye on the security situation in Haiti. As Deputy Barrett knows, I visited there last July and saw for myself the shocking horror of the scale of destruction there. I experienced at first hand the very fragile security situation that pertained, even six months after the earthquake. Even before the earthquake, the security situation in Haiti was perilous, to say the least. There is a history of gang violence and that has continued into the humanitarian camps that are being supported by us at present.

With regard to our intervention in Haiti itself, it is not within our remit to deal with the security situation, although we would naturally wish to see it resolved and have increasing concern for the safety and security of humanitarian workers. Needless to say, the Sharon Commins incident is a case in point. However, our job is to provide, first, humanitarian aid and, second, long-term reconstruction.

With regard to the deployment of a corps of people, we have one in place. It is the rapid response corps. The lessons from the 2004 tsumani were clear. We need fewer but more highly trained and skilled people. We have a corps of more than 150 people and we deployed more than ten of those to Haiti immediately after the earthquake to assist with the effort.

Are those the lines the Deputy was considering?

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