Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

The Taoiseach and other Heads of State will meet at the United Nations in New York tomorrow to discuss the issue of HIV-AIDS. I will support whatever action is proposed. A declaration following a seminar in Africa last week called for research into a vaccine for AIDS. No cure is available but it is hoped an effort will be made by the great brains of the world to address this. In particular, infected mothers pass on the virus to their babies when breast-feeding but there is a shortage of milk substitute in African. When people call for a freeze on aid to developing countries in the Third World, they should recall that no milk substitute is available for these innocent children. The House should unite to make it clear that overseas development aid should continue so that this basic human right of babies and young children can be vindicated.