Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and compliment him on the high profile he has given Irish Aid in recent times. What is significant about today's debate is the fact that there is a White Paper. As the chief executive of Concern said, and I agree, it has set an example for other European states.

The White Paper has the support and endorsement of all Ministers. This shows it is firm Government policy and not just an isolated initiative within An Agreed Programme for Government. That is important because an issue such as world hunger cannot be put into a box and isolated from other activities, possibilities and opportunities. We certainly have come a long way from the days when there was a little "black baby" box on the teacher's desk at school, into which the children put their coins and the little black baby figure on the box nodded its head appreciatively. Even then, as a young person, it gave one a spiritual lift because one felt one was interacting in some way with humanity, even though one did not fully understand how. Nonetheless, one sensed there was some small appreciation for what one was doing. I am sure back in those days the same difficulties existed throughout the world.

Tens of millions of people are hungry today. This problem was not highlighted to the same extent in the past when we did not have television or other media outlets to horrify us. Anyone with a heart not made of stone who watches some of the television pictures that depict this poverty must wish to God he or she had the answers. One tries to understand why this is happening and the White Paper has helped in this regard. Why is there a scarcity of food in the world? That has to be examined.

It is vital for us to realise that it is not always the climate that causes the problems. In many of these countries the problems are often caused by a thirst for power among dictators and the conflicts which arise therefrom. Perhaps this is the time to sound a note of warning that all world powers should be careful about their foreign policies to ensure they do not create further conflicts which are often perceived to be for the selfish needs of the powers involved. We must ensure this is not the case. I hope some of the cynicism which surfaces is not firmly rooted or grounded. Part of that cynicism is expressed when people comment on how amazing it is that world powers can go into areas where they have vested interests, while ignoring other problem areas. For example, one of the greatest problems of all time is the AIDS epidemic. Medicines exist which could help those affected. The difficulty is that the patents on those medicines are held by people who could release them if they wanted to. The medicines could be produced at an exceptionally low cost but those who control the patents allow tens of thousands of people, including children, to die simply because they do not regard intervention for such purposes in the same light as military intervention.

I am not very familiar with the foreign policies of various countries, except from what I read. However, the foreign policy that always seems to have no vested interest and is rooted in humanity is that of Ireland. That has been the case right back through the years. The present Irish Aid programme, I understand, extends back over 32 years, to a time when the country was not as affluent as it is today. There has always been an urge to do something and this comes from our past experience. It is in our genes to want to help because Ireland suffered famine of genocidal proportions in the past.

The Minister of State was correct to highlight that Ireland can offer something exclusive, namely, its experience in the area of conflict analysis and resolution. That experience can be transposed to and used in other arenas. Ireland does not seem to have enemies in the sense that it never colonised or tried to exploit other countries. This is evidenced by the welcome for the White Paper. It has been welcomed by the aid agencies, the missionary groups, etc. I have never seen such unanimity. I would go so far as to say the media was exceptionally generous in its coverage of the launch of the White Paper. I compliment, in particular, The Irish Times on the extensive coverage it gave in this regard.

In my view, this underlines the existence of the elements for partnership to which the White Paper refers. It is a matter of doing what the Minister of State indicated earlier and it is evident that Members agree this is not a party political issue. There is no need for people to be politically partizan in respect of this matter. This issue does not merely concern our role in globalisation, it relates to our role in a much more fundamental matter, namely, humanity. All of this is inherent in the White Paper.

Another strength of the White Paper is the extensive consultation that took place in respect of it. Who are those operating at the coalface in this area? It is the NGOs, the volunteers and the missionary groups. It is evident there was widespread and intensive contact with these groups, which was important. In the past and in connection with documents of this nature, people often wondered on which shelf they would be put. The White Paper will not be put on a shelf because it is now in the ownership of so many different groups and people that progress in respect of it will be monitored.

We do not know what the future holds but no one is saying we cannot exceed the target of €1.5 billion for 2012. The Irish people will support the Government in respect of whatever level of aid, no matter how generous, it decides to provide because within 24 or 48 hours of recent emergency situations arising they responded to help alleviate the suffering of others. While there must be a rapid response to emergency situations, our final aim must be to make poverty history throughout the world.