Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

It is very difficult to talk of human rights in other parts of the world after hearing our colleague Senator Leyden talk of the human rights issue at the gates of Leinster House. The world goes on nevertheless.

I support Senator McDowell's request for a debate on Africa. Specific questions need to be answered. In Darfur in Sudan, near the Chad border, ethnic cleansing is being carried out as we speak. Men, women and children are being killed and the international community has not yet responded. However, Sudan has been elected within the past 24 hours to the UN Human Rights Commission. What is going on in Sudan relates to the politics of the region, but the Minister should express an opinion. Regarding what is happening in middle Africa, and the establishment of the commission to which Senator McDowell referred, has Ireland any involvement or input into that commission? It would be useful to clarify Ireland's role, especially in light of our very deep commitment to the African continent.