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<title>Brian O'Shea - Recent appearances (From KildareStreet.com)</title>
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<dc:date>2009-04-15T16:11:21+00:00</dc:date>

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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-08.329.0&amp;m=714#g621.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-08.329.0&amp;m=714#g621.0</link>
	<description>-----which nobody reads or wants to read in the Irish language.  It would be much more in the interests of the Irish language and of the Gaeltacht for savings to be made in this area so that the...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="621.1">-----which nobody reads or wants to read in the Irish language.  It would be much more in the interests of the Irish language and of the Gaeltacht for savings to be made in this area so that the much used schemes, na scéimeanna tithíochta Gaeltachta, could continue to accept applications in the normal way. </p><p pid="621.2">The Christmas bonus has been abolished, which is an awful departure.  People under 20 in receipt of the jobseeker’s allowance have had their payment halved.  Tax exiles are getting another Christmas bonus because they will not be taxed.  Social solidarity is totally absent from what the Government has proposed and there are major problems as a result.  My colleague, Deputy Joan Burton, and our party leader, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, made the real point - that there is no basis here for a recovery.  This budget amounts to cutbacks and nothing else.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-08T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-08.329.0&amp;m=714#g619.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-08.329.0&amp;m=714#g619.0</link>
	<description>Ba mhaith liom d&Atilde;&copy;ile&Atilde;&iexcl;il le dh&Atilde;&iexcl; gn&Atilde;&copy; den urlabhra&Atilde;&shy;ocht at&Atilde;&iexcl; agam - an Ghaeilge agus an Roinn Cosanta.  Bh&Atilde;&shy; s&Atilde;&copy; soil&Atilde;&copy;ir sa r&Atilde;&iexcl;iteas a thug an Aire Airgeadais inn&Atilde;&copy; go bhfuil dearmad d&Atilde;&copy;anta...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="619.1">Ba mhaith liom déileáil le dhá gné den urlabhraíocht atá agam - an Ghaeilge agus an Roinn Cosanta.  Bhí sé soiléir sa ráiteas a thug an Aire Airgeadais inné go bhfuil dearmad déanta ag an Rialtas ar an nGaeilge.  Ní raibh focal Gaeilge, nó focal faoin nGaeilge, i Ráiteas gCáinaisnéise an Aire, an Teachta Brian Lenihan.  Is é sin mar atá Fianna Fáil faoi láthair - ligeann a chuid Teachtaí orthu go bhfuil siad ag iarraidh Stát dátheangach a cothú ach, in aimsir an chruatan, déanann siad dearmad ghlan ar an nGaeilge.  Nuair a d’fhéach mé ar na caipéisí iniata a bhí sna clúdaigh litreach a fuair Teachtaí inné, ní raibh faic ann i leith na Gaeilge.  Chuir an Aire, an Teachta Ó Cuív, ráiteas amach inné chun cuir in iúl nach mbeidh a Roinn ag glacadh tuilleadh iarratais le haghaidh an scéim tithíochta Gaeltachta.  I ráiteas eile inné, dúirt an Aire céanna go bhfuil €2 mhilliún á aistriúóna Roinn go dtí an Roinn Ealaíon, Spóirt agus Turasóireachta i leith clár forbartha réigiúnach Comhaltas CeoltóiríÉireann.</p><p pid="619.2">B’fhéidir go bhfuil an Ghaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht ag éalúó ciorraithe, ach ba mhaith liom é sin a chloisint ón Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta é fhéin.  Níl focal faoin straitéis 20 bliain, faoin phlean ghníomhaíochta don Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht nó faoin reachtaíocht i leith teorainneacha na Gaeltachta agus Údarás na Gaeltachta ráite aige.  Ní raibh focal i ráiteas an Aire faoi todhchaí meitheal forbartha na Gaeltachta, rud atá conspóideach go leor ag an nóiméad.  Beidh an toghchán le haghaidh bórd Údarás na Gaeltachta ar siúl i mí Aibreán na bliana seo chugainn, ach níl aon rian ar an scéal go mbeidh na hathruithe atá le déanamh curtha in áit faoin am sin.</p><p pid="619.3">There is to be a saving of €30 million in the Department of Defence budget.  Some €10 million will be achieved because of the recent transfer of the Chad mission from EUFOR to the United Nations.  I am somewhat baffled as to why this saving has not been factored in before now because the transfer of the mission to the UN had been known about for some considerable time, as had the consequential savings.  Savings of €6 million will be made on new buildings and €3 million on refurbishment.  Savings of €4 million are to be achieved in pay and allowances.  This brings me to the embargo on recruitment and promotion in the Defence Forces, which will deprive people of the opportunity to take up employment in what are time-honoured and worthwhile careers, both at home and abroad.  We have had the postponement of the 12 Reserve Defence Forces personnel going on active service to Kosovo later this year.  It is most regrettable that this worthwhile initiative has been abandoned.</p><p pid="619.4">A case has been brought to my attention whereby a member of the regular Army, who had been seeking the rank of sergeant for 30 years, had finally achieved his ambition and had his medical test last Thursday.  He was to have that medical test, but the embargo came in a week previously.  Meanwhile, the successful interview had been delayed for some time because a member of the interviewing panel was not available.  As things stand that promotion will not go ahead, so I am calling on the Minister, Deputy O’Dea, to persuade his colleague, the Minister for Finance, to rectify urgently such an absolutely arbitrary and unfair decision.</p><p pid="619.5">To return to the Irish language, I was disappointed that there was not some reference in the Budget Statement to a review of the functions of the Official Languages Act, particularly in regard to translations.  It is about time that we eliminated wasteful translations of documents-----</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-08T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.487.0&amp;m=714#g539.0">
	<title>Social Welfare: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.487.0&amp;m=714#g539.0</link>
	<description>Is that agreed?  Agreed.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="539.1">Is that agreed?  Agreed.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-01T19:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.487.0&amp;m=714#g532.0">
	<title>Social Welfare: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.487.0&amp;m=714#g532.0</link>
	<description>Is that agreed?  Agreed.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="532.2">Is that agreed?  Agreed.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-01T19:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-26.468.0&amp;m=714#g469.9">
	<title>Institutes of Technology. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-26.468.0&amp;m=714#g469.9</link>
	<description>In February 2006 Waterford Institute of Technology made a formal application to the Department of Education and Science in pursuit of university status.  The submission embraces constituent...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="469.2">In February 2006 Waterford Institute of Technology made a formal application to the Department of Education and Science in pursuit of university status.  The submission embraces constituent campuses throughout the south east.  There was an expectation by the institute at the time that a body of national and international education experts would be set up to adjudicate the merits of the institute’s case and then report to the Higher Education Authority.</p><p pid="469.3">More than three years later, I tabled a parliamentary question last Tuesday, asking the Minister for Education and Science to request the Higher Education Authority to recommend, as provided for under section 9.1 of the Universities Act 1997, the membership of a body to include international experts and national experts for appointment by the Government.  This body would advise the Higher Education Authority  whether Waterford Institute of Technology should be established as the university of the south east.</p><p pid="469.4">The Minister’s reply was clear.  He stated there are no plans to advance any of the current applications for university status before the strategy group on higher education reports.  The Minister has asked the group to report to him with a two-decade roadmap for the development of the sector.</p><p pid="469.5">The Minister has asked the group to report to him with a two decade road map for the development of the sector before the end of the year.  There is no guarantee that it will report on time and if previous adherence to timeframes around the Waterford Institute of Technology application is repeated, it could be quite some time before the report is produced.</p><p pid="469.6">The Minister stated that applications have been received for designation as universities from Waterford Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology and Cork Institute of Technology.  Dublin already has three universities and Cork has one.  In addition to universities, Limerick and Galway have institutes of technology.  Waterford and the south-east region are alone in not having a university.  When we compare the five major cities in terms of spending on third level education, Dublin’s spend is more than 11 times that of Waterford, Cork spends almost four times as much and Galway and Limerick have three times Waterford’s spend.</p><p pid="469.7">One tactic used by Fianna Fáil to delay commencing the statutory process of assessment for the WIT application announced by the then Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, in advance of the 2007 general election was that a preliminary assessment of the submission would be made by Dr. Jim Port, a UK-based independent consultant.  This was a ploy to get Fianna Fáil through the election by giving the impression that something real was happening on the application.  Dr. Port’s report was finally published in February 2008.  In it, he described the Waterford Institute of Technology application as a serious one that raised a number of issues for the Government but contained nothing inherent to prevent its consideration under the existing process.  Dr. Port found that WIT has an academic maturity and activity profile in degree and postgraduate training, research and scholarly activity which overlaps with institutions in the Irish university sector and other western countries.  He felt that WIT fulfils many of the broader roles of the university, especially in terms of supporting the regional economy and cultural development and knowledge transfer.</p><p pid="469.8">There is a brain drain from the south east, with some 7,000 students at any given time studying in universities outside the region.  Many of these will never return to live in the region.  There is a regional deficit in fourth level education provision and under capacity in research and development.  If the south-east region is to be part of Ireland’s smart economy, it must have a university.</p><p pid="469.9">I am demanding that the statutory process on the WIT application be initiated immediately.  This will not cost a great deal of money or impinge on the work of the strategy group.  I call on the Government to end its cynicism and evasion and the dishonest ploys which have been repeatedly to avoid progressing the application by WIT for university status.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-26T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-11.348.0&amp;m=714#g397.0">
	<title>Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-11.348.0&amp;m=714#g397.0</link>
	<description>Yes.  Is that agreed?  Agreed.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="397.1">Yes.  Is that agreed?  Agreed.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-11T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-11.348.0&amp;m=714#g392.0">
	<title>Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-11.348.0&amp;m=714#g392.0</link>
	<description>Deputy Kelly has one minute remaining.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="392.2">Deputy Kelly has one minute remaining.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-11T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.161.0&amp;m=714#g197.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.161.0&amp;m=714#g197.0</link>
	<description>T&Atilde;&iexcl; an toghch&Atilde;&iexcl;n le haghaidh b&Atilde;&sup3;rd &Atilde;�dar&Atilde;&iexcl;s na Gaeltachta le tion&Atilde;&sup3;ladh i m&Atilde;&shy; Aibre&Atilde;&iexcl;n 2010.  T&Atilde;&iexcl; reachta&Atilde;&shy;ocht geallta chun teorainneacha na Gaeltachta a athr&Atilde;&ordm; agus chun san-mh&Atilde;&shy;ni&Atilde;&ordm; nua a...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="197.1">Tá an toghchán le haghaidh bórd Údarás na Gaeltachta le tionóladh i mí Aibreán 2010.  Tá reachtaíocht geallta chun teorainneacha na Gaeltachta a athrú agus chun san-mhíniú nua a dhéanamh ar cad is Gaeltacht ann.  Tá Bille Údarás na Gaeltachta geallta freisin.  An mbeidh an Bille sin foilsithe in am chun toghchán don bhórd, bunaithe ar na teorainneacha agus an san-mhíniú nua, a éascú?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.134.0&amp;m=714#g142.2">
	<title>Defence Forces Reserve. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.134.0&amp;m=714#g142.2</link>
	<description>With regard to those who serve in the pilot group of 12 and subsequent groups, are there any prospects of them becoming members of the Permanent Defence Forces?  The campaign for recruitment to...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="142.2">With regard to those who serve in the pilot group of 12 and subsequent groups, are there any prospects of them becoming members of the Permanent Defence Forces?  The campaign for recruitment to the reserve is now on hold, although I understand that if people volunteer, they will be recruited.  However, there will not be a recruitment campaign.  Would it not make the reserve a more attractive proposition if people considering becoming involved in the reserve saw the prospect of becoming full-time members of the Permanent Defence Forces?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.134.0&amp;m=714#g138.2">
	<title>Defence Forces Reserve. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.134.0&amp;m=714#g138.2</link>
	<description>Obviously, that is a very welcome development.  Will the Minister confirm the report that appeared in the media that 12 reservists will be taking part, including heavy-duty mechanics, medical...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="138.2">Obviously, that is a very welcome development.  Will the Minister confirm the report that appeared in the media that 12 reservists will be taking part, including heavy-duty mechanics, medical specialists and information technology experts?  What will be the position with regard to their pay?  I take it a number of these people will be leaving paid employment to go to Kosovo.  How will the issue of pay be addressed for the six months they will spend there?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.120.0&amp;m=714#g131.2">
	<title>Constitutional Amendments. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.120.0&amp;m=714#g131.2</link>
	<description>I wish to ask the Minister about a related issue.  Will he give us an absolute assurance that nothing contained in the Lisbon treaty can undermine or change the situation regarding the triple...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="131.2">I wish to ask the Minister about a related issue.  Will he give us an absolute assurance that nothing contained in the Lisbon treaty can undermine or change the situation regarding the triple lock mechanism that governs military actions in which the State can become involved?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.112.0&amp;m=714#g117.2">
	<title>Defence Forces Operations. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.112.0&amp;m=714#g117.2</link>
	<description>I accept what the Minister said but there needs to be more urgency and focus to deal with the situation than the Minister has indicated.  This is an unwelcome developing trend.  I accept what the...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="117.2">I accept what the Minister said but there needs to be more urgency and focus to deal with the situation than the Minister has indicated.  This is an unwelcome developing trend.  I accept what the Minister said that those are not hoax call-outs in the sense that it is the Garda who make the calls.  There appears to be a deliberate pattern.  On the other hand, however, the hoax devices are being planted for a particular reason.  Does the Minister have information as to whether anyone has been apprehended or sentenced by the courts that gives any indication of where all this activity is emanating from?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.112.0&amp;m=714#g115.3">
	<title>Defence Forces Operations. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.112.0&amp;m=714#g115.3</link>
	<description>The figures on call-outs of the EOD team are quite alarming.  The number of call-outs in 2007 was 98, while last year it was 180.  The number of hoaxes has increased by 500%, and is now one in...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="115.2">The figures on call-outs of the EOD team are quite alarming.  The number of call-outs in 2007 was 98, while last year it was 180.  The number of hoaxes has increased by 500%, and is now one in three.  The EOD team is called out on hoax calls.  Obviously, the Army must respond to requests from the civil power but this is a large waste of resources.  Where is this increase originating?  There have been reports that ex-IRA people are assisting criminal elements in producing bombs.  Given what has happened in Northern Ireland in the past few days, with the tragic death of two soldiers, the wounding of civilians and the death of the policeman last night, are there wider security issues of which we should be cognisant?</p><p pid="115.3">Up to 27 January this year there were four call-outs, one of which was a hoax.  Does the Minister have the up-to-date figure?  I feel that something is going on and it needs to be addressed.  I take the point that the Garda is responsible for law and order but my concern is that there is a wider agenda that could be going further down the road in terms of undermining the State.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.79.0&amp;m=714#g87.2">
	<title>Overseas Missions. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.79.0&amp;m=714#g87.2</link>
	<description>I take the point about restricted movement during the rainy season.  In the intervening three months, does the Minister envisage the withdrawal of the Irish or UN contingent from Chad?  As...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="87.2">I take the point about restricted movement during the rainy season.  In the intervening three months, does the Minister envisage the withdrawal of the Irish or UN contingent from Chad?  As matters stand, such a withdrawal is not a direct possibility.  However, has a military assessment been carried out with regard to what would happen if our troops were placed at risk as a result of a serious deterioration in circumstances?  Did the Minister discuss this matter with the Chief of Staff?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.79.0&amp;m=714#g83.3">
	<title>Overseas Missions. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.79.0&amp;m=714#g83.3</link>
	<description>I am relieved to hear the overall threat assessment is medium.  That is an encouraging development but, as the situation needs to be kept under constant review, there may be changes to this...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="83.2">I am relieved to hear the overall threat assessment is medium.  That is an encouraging development but, as the situation needs to be kept under constant review, there may be changes to this status.</p><p pid="83.3">With up to 13 NGOs having been expelled, a disastrous situation has emerged in Darfur with, for example, Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF, being forced to leave while dealing with two meningitis outbreaks.  Will many more refugees begin to cross the border from Darfur and Sudan to eastern Chad?  Is there any evidence that the Chadian rebels may be receiving new assistance from Sudan?  What impact will the approaching rainy season have on the situation, which I understand is three months away?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.79.0&amp;m=714#g80.0">
	<title>Overseas Missions. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-10.79.0&amp;m=714#g80.0</link>
	<description>Question 44: To ask the Minister for Defence   if there will be a change in the role of Irish troops serving in Chad as a result of the decision to transfer command of the operation from the EU...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="80.0"><i>Question 44:</i> To ask the Minister for Defence   if there will be a change in the role of Irish troops serving in Chad as a result of the decision to transfer command of the operation from the EU to the UN; if he is satisfied with the preparations for the handover of the command of Irish troops in Chad from EUFOR to the UN on 15 March 2009; the latest information regarding the security situation in Chad and the potential threat to Irish troops, particularly in view of reports that large numbers of heavily armed personnel could cross the border from Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.   <b>[10087/09]</b></p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-10T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-05.109.0&amp;m=714#g119.0">
	<title>Overseas Missions: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-05.109.0&amp;m=714#g119.0</link>
	<description>Will that be three years in total, including EUFOR, or three years with the blue hat?</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="119.1">Will that be three years in total, including EUFOR, or three years with the blue hat?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-05T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-05.109.0&amp;m=714#g114.0">
	<title>Overseas Missions: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-05.109.0&amp;m=714#g114.0</link>
	<description>T&Atilde;&iexcl; an-&Atilde;&iexcl;thas orm seans a bheith agam labhairt ar an r&Atilde;&ordm;n seo sa D&Atilde;&iexcl;il, mar t&Atilde;&iexcl; dea-sc&Atilde;&copy;al ag baint leis.  Ar nd&Atilde;&sup3;igh, t&Atilde;&iexcl; dea-sc&Atilde;&copy;alta ag teast&Atilde;&iexcl;il go g&Atilde;&copy;ar sna laethanta at&Atilde;&iexcl; againn faoi...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="114.1">Tá an-áthas orm seans a bheith agam labhairt ar an rún seo sa Dáil, mar tá dea-scéal ag baint leis.  Ar ndóigh, tá dea-scéalta ag teastáil go géar sna laethanta atá againn faoi láthair.  In these gloomy and uncertain times of unprecedented economic recession, it is uplifting to debate a positive motion such as this.  The EUFOR TCHAD-RCA mission, which is now coming to a close, has been under the overall command of Lieutenant General Pat Nash, who has done a great job.  I add my congratulations to those offered by the Minister of State and Deputy O’Dowd.</p><p pid="114.2">The operation encompasses Chad and the Central African Republic.  The region has improved in terms of safety and security for refugees, displaced persons and the population in general.  Deputy O’Dowd referred to the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against the Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, with regard to criminal activities of great concern to the court.  The Chinese authorities have sought the suspension of the case against the Sudanese President.  The licences of between six and ten NGOs operating in Darfur have been revoked and this is a serious matter.  One of the NGOs affected is Oxfam, which works with 600,000 people in north Sudan, of whom 400,000 are in Darfur.  The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has noted that this is a serious setback to the lifesaving operations in Darfur and has urged the Government of Sudan to restore the NGOs to operational status.  We all echo his call.</p><p pid="114.3">The concern we have is the effect this may have on further refugees coming from Darfur and the consequences for the area in terms of the operation of Irish troops.  I visited Abeche and N’Djamena in Chad but I did not get as far as Goz Beida.  To see our troops perform a task at least as well as anywhere else in the world is uplifting.  Terrain is hostile, hot and barren.  Uncertainty exists because of bandits and militia groups.  Have there been recent security reports on the possible consequences of developments in Sudan with regard to the action taken by the International Criminal Court?  I visited one of the refugee camps and got the feeling that while the Irish troops have improved the situation a great deal many of the refugees would not have a great inclination to return home for a long time.  Even though they are not very good, the conditions under the EUFOR mission, which will continue under the blue hatted mission, are better than conditions in Sudan.</p><p pid="114.4">When this motion was being considered by the committee, I asked the Minister how long he would expect the Irish commitment to continue beyond this year.  The indication was that it would be about a maximum of another year when the year under the UN mandate has expired.  We are doing a very good job there and I raise this concern and seek an update on security because of the possibility of short-term developments putting our Irish troops at greater risk.  I would like the matter clarified.</p><p pid="114.5">This was the biggest mission by the EUFOR under the operational command of Lieutenant-General Nash and it was a success.  There were major problems to begin with, such as the logistics of setting up camp in an area 2,000 miles from the sea, and this was a major undertaking.  It was discharged very well.  The UN base was under construction when I visited the area and I am sure progress has been made on this.  The fact that Lieutenant-General Nash oversaw this mission from its inception through to its conclusion and the fact that it has been successful makes me very proud as an Irish person and a Member of this House.</p><p pid="114.6">I understand that hospital care is provided by Italians in Chad.  Will this continue?  Will there be a change in the medical personnel we will deal with?  The rainy season will begin in three months’ time and this has the effect of slowing everything down.  The Labour Party gives full support to this motion.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-05T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-05.109.0&amp;m=714#g112.0">
	<title>Overseas Missions: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-05.109.0&amp;m=714#g112.0</link>
	<description>Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis an Teachta Aengus &Atilde;� Snodaigh.  B&acirc;��fh&Atilde;&copy;idir go nd&Atilde;&copy;arfaidh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle liom &Atilde;&copy; nuair a bheidh ocht n&Atilde;&sup3;im&Atilde;&copy;ad &Atilde;&shy;dithe agam.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="112.1">Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis an Teachta Aengus Ó Snodaigh.  B’fhéidir go ndéarfaidh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle liom é nuair a bheidh ocht nóiméad ídithe agam.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-05T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-04.1043.0&amp;m=714#g1045.3">
	<title>Departmental Strategy Statements. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-04.1043.0&amp;m=714#g1045.3</link>
	<description>Is that agreed?  Agreed.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="1045.3">Is that agreed?  Agreed.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-04T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>


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