Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask the Taoiseach about his attendance last week at the European Union-African Union summit and the need to develop a strategic partnership between Europe and Africa. As the Taoiseach knows, Africa faces many challenges including Covid-19. Only 11% of Africans are fully vaccinated at this time. There are also issues with hunger, undernourishment, conflict, political violence, climate change and poor governance. There are associated issues that need to be addressed, such as the education of women, healthcare, family planning and food production. No doubt all of these were discussed at the summit. In this regard it is important that we recommit ourselves to implementing the UN sustainable goals. There are, of course, moral obligations to tackle these humanitarian concerns.

It is also in the interests of the EU and the African Union to promote sustainable investment and economic growth in Africa, as well as stable societies. The sustainable development of agriculture and food is of particular interest to Ireland. As the Taoiseach is aware, we have established the Ireland-Africa rural development committee. Was the request by the African Union for more legal routes to the EU from Africa considered, along with the need to implement the EU's pact on migration and asylum?

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