Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

Now is a critical time in terms of supplying aid to the victims of the recent earthquake in Kashmir. The next couple of weeks will be decisive because the weather is becoming very cold. Lives may be saved over the coming winter if people receive medical aid now.

I was struck by last night's report on RTE of a child whose broken foot went untreated for a number of weeks with the result that it may need to be amputated. While others may face more grave situations, simple medical aid would have saved that girl's foot.

I live in Lucan, as do many doctors from the Kashmir region. The Minister of State will be aware that many of these doctors work in Irish hospitals. Like other foreign doctors, they have kept our hospitals going through their contributions to our health services. It is time that we gave something back to these people. Many of the doctors I refer to have lost relatives in the earthquake. It is important that we help them return to provide medical aid to their people over the next couple of weeks.

When a submission was recently made to the Tánaiste on this issue, my local newspaper, the Lucan Gazette, reported her as being supportive of the idea of allowing doctors return to Kashmir to help in relief work. It is important that this matter is considered urgently by the Tánaiste and her Department and that she is proactive and imaginative in her response. The doctors' return to Pakistan should not have a detrimental effect on their careers, even if it is done at their own expense.