Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Ryan's request for a debate on the Palestinian situation. I hope the Minister for Foreign Affairs can come in to discuss the issue as a matter of urgency. Can the Leader provide time in next week's schedule to discuss the serious drought in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia? I commend the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, as well as the president of the Irish Red Cross, David Andrews, who has been visiting the affected areas. The response of the Government has been very generous and over €7 million of taxpayers' money has been earmarked for the region. We should also commend the work of the voluntary agencies and the priests and nuns who carry out dynamic work there. The Sisters of Mercy have spent 50 years in Kenya working with the poorest of the poor and we should recognise their contribution. We need the opportunity to debate this grave situation, which is affecting around 11 million people.