Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)

When we discussed this earlier this year, I raised the issue of the resuscitation of boreholes as one approach that we could take.

As the Minister of State will be aware, the first problem in the Horn of Africa, and why there has been a famine declared in a number of regions of Somalia, is the political instability which prevents having a long-term approach such as that we have seen in Ethiopia. It is clear that the same environmental circumstances pertain to Ethiopia and Kenya, but they have not faced famine at this point. What can Ireland do, as part of the international community, to address the food instability crisis as it pertains to Africa, particularly at times like this? How do we deal with the commodity-based approach to vital crops that could save lives in these areas? What can Ireland do as part of the European Union? The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade recommended that an EU envoy be sent to the region to address the political instability there. It is being reported that the al-Shabab group, which has deterred those who are trying to provide aid and save lives, carried out a bombing in Mogadishu today. How can we play a part in finding a solution? How can we ensure these problems are not repeated in the future?

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