Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I appreciate that Senator Henry has allowed me to share her time. I wish to raise two points, one of which was referred to by Senator Lydon, namely, the siphoning off of aid meant for different purposes. In an interesting article in The Economist last week, US Congressman Christopher Shays, who chairs the US Government reform committee, expressed the view that the UN food for aid programme, worth $67 billion over the years, could become the biggest scandal ever. Given what has been happening with the programme and the possibility that it may be directed to our aid programme, will it be possible to ensure we avoid some of the scandals referred to? Mr. Chalabi, a member of the American-appointed Iraqi governing committee, has also described it as the biggest political scandal in history. The oil for food programme was abused by Saddam Hussein. Huge sums of money were given to a large number of dictators and other countries, many of which were genuine beneficiaries. However, there is even a suggestion that politically motivated people who had gained well from this in France and Russia were able to influence the French and Russian governments not to join in the war in Iraq. I do not know how much truth there is in this, but these kinds of scandal damage the reputation of those who are trying give money to help those requiring help, money that is being siphoned off elsewhere.

I am impressed by the Minister of State. Since I have known him, he has been strongly committed to this area. He referred to the commodity dependence in Africa. Given that Ireland holds the EU Presidency, we must do something to ensure we get back on track the thinking in regard to subsidies and what we do for these nations. It involves the United States and the farming supports we give in Europe. Senator Henry referred to the price of sugar. I could give many examples of the prices being paid or not being paid in Africa to the producers of food. Oxfam had a wonderful quote: "If you give a man a fish you feed him for a day; if you teach him to fish you feed him for life." It is a lovely idea and it should be repeated by all involved in this area.

It is not enough to give help, food or aid to theses countries if at the same time we are putting up barriers in Europe to ensure they cannot export to us the products they produce much more efficiently and at a much lower price than we can do. Let us make sure we use the little time we have and the strong voice of the Minister of State to influence in any way we can the ability to change that attitude so that in the years ahead the people of Africa will look back and say that rather than give handouts, Europe was able to do something to help them in the long term.