Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

-----or misbehaviour by regimes or groups that want to impose their ideological view on people. None of us is neutral in that regard. Have there been references, to the Minister's knowledge, to the International Criminal Court in respect of events in Mali?

We noted at the start of the conflict the damage that was done. Mali has an incredible cultural heritage, as the Minister knows. It has UNESCO sites and, along with ourselves, it probably has musicians among the best on the planet. For many cultural reasons, Mali is an important country. Owing to Mali's French colonial history, as articulated by other Members, there are concerns that we could be sucked into a conflict that ultimately would not be in the interest of this country. Would this be of concern to the Minister as the decision is made on whether to participate?

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