Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As stated earlier, we discussed the former President's views on Ukraine and how suddenly one part of it, namely Crimea, was annexed. He was interested in explaining the work of the Clinton Global Initiative in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The former President has an enormous grasp of global politics and, as a result of his experience, of the geopolitics of the Middle East and other regions. We did not discuss his own presidency. It is clear, however, that during his first term of office there were quite a number of difficulties with the US economy as a result of certain decisions that were made. By the end of his second term, the economy was in good shape and running a strong surplus. After the crash, America obviously dealt with its banks in a different way from Europe. Banks in the US were stuffed with money - regardless of whether they wanted it - and the question of liquidity was dealt with very quickly as a result. As a result of the fact that it took a different route, it has taken Europe much longer to come close to getting its house in order.

The level of expenditure on armaments is absolutely enormous. However, it is not for me to speak about other countries and the decisions they make in terms of how they spend their military budgets. I was fascinated by President Clinton's interest in and knowledge of villages in Africa on which the attention of the Clinton Global Initiative has been focused for some time. He possesses an in-depth knowledge of the various kinds of small farm that exist in these areas and also of the quality of soil available and the need for it to be treated or irrigated. Clinton Global Initiative operatives return to the villages in question on numerous occasions in order to explain to farmers how to properly husband vegetables and other crops and to outline to them that they have the capability to reach local markets and obtain higher prices for their produce. The latter results in these people receiving small amounts of income that are very proportionately very beneficial to them.

The work of the initiative speaks for itself. For example, in one of its valuable schemes, more than 300,000 women are receiving treatment in order to block the transmission of HIV from mothers to children. I recall visiting the facilities of the Merck pharmaceutical company in New Jersey where the drug to combat a parasitic eye disease is produced. That drug has been distributed free of charge for many years now and its use has helped to practically wipe out that terribly debilitating disease, which causes blindness and which is carried by insects that are found along the course of certain rivers in Africa. The former President was very anxious to continue dialogue with Ireland in the context of the work done by the Clinton Global Initiative. He is interested in further developments with the Irish Dairy Board and in opportunities relating to basic products such as milk. We did not debate global armaments, but the former President was interested in the outcome of the partnership between Ireland and the Clinton Global Initiative and the impact it is having on the lives of so many people on the African continent.

See this speech in context