Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the EU response, there will be a further discussion at the December meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, at which the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, will be present, on that very issue of providing an update on funding and how it is being disbursed from an EU perspective. The EU Ebola co-ordinator will present further recommendations at that time.

I wish to reassure the Deputy that, aside from the investment we are making in regard to assisting the health systems, the Irish response is part of the process. There is also the danger of the secondary humanitarian crisis that follows an outbreak of this nature, where there is already a weak health system. I visited Sierra Leone between 1 and 4 October and I am delighted to say we have a very strong embassy team in Freetown, headed by ambassador Sinead Walsh.

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