Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Power. I join him in thanking the task force for producing such a report, which I hope will play a pivotal role in the global fight against hunger. The report gets straight to the point in outlining a record of world failure to tackle world hunger. All our promises to the Third World have failed. In honouring commitments, all those who placed their trust in us and those who work to ensure that hunger is eradicated have been betrayed. One in five developed countries have reached the 0.7% gross national income target. The United Nations millennium development goals target on hunger is unlikely to be met in either sub-Saharan Africa or is south-east Asia. The hunger target set by the world food summit in 1996 will not be met either. The official development assistance commitments of the G8 Gleneagles summit will not be met either, despite commitments given at that time. Of the African states, only five will reach the target for agricultural spending adopted at the Maputo conference in 2003. This is a poor record of failure and a betrayal of those who are weakest, namely, those in danger of losing the most important thing of all, their lives.

What are the reasons for this failure? It is prevalent at so many policy levels, including international, governmental, regional, local and administrative. Perhaps part of the problem is that the matter is seen as a case of "out of sight, out of mind". Well-meaning leaders at summits can make commitments, which they may sincerely believe, but in many instances they and their administrators have no experience of what is happening. In their offices, thousands of miles from the starving, the statistics they read in briefs are merely cold, hard statistics. They have no connection or first-hand knowledge of the starving families whose lives are in danger because of food shortages.

Irish people died in the 1840s in the great famine because policy-makers in Dublin Castle and Westminster could not grasp the scale of what was happening. This "out of sight, out of mind" approach echoes in capitals worldwide at present. The problem also exists in Africa where leadership elites have failed to deliver reforms to help eradicate hunger. Some of the countries worst affected often do not have a single ministry or national authority to deal with their plight. Those most affected by malnutrition, as the Minister of State, Deputy Power, stated are usually women and children. These are often some of the most marginalised in states. They are targeted in conflicts, caught between sides in wars and outsiders in society. These are people that African governments can often marginalise and ignore.

This report is a welcome initiative in focussing our minds on these issues, including the aims and the failures. Ireland has a proud history in tackling and taking seriously the problems of famine and food shortages. Memories of the great Irish famine spur us to ensure that others do not suffer as we did. We also have an awareness of African issues through our missionaries, who brought home an awareness of the Third World to every parish and community. Our NGOs are among the most professional, experienced and respected worldwide.

Many developing countries in Africa and Asia are aware of their colonial past. We share with them the experience of being colonised, so we possess a greater empathy with new nations setting up after wars of independence. This cultural and historical background leaves Ireland uniquely placed to contribute an independent voice which understands their hopes and fears. We must use this independence of mind and spirit to work for the eradication of hunger and malnutrition and lead the world in honouring our commitments. Even if the millennium development goals were on target — they are not — some 585 million people will still be hungry in the world by 2015, which is a frightening statistic. To put this number into context, it means the number of hungry people would be some 205 million greater than the population of the United States of America, or some 86 million greater than the population of the entire 27 countries of the European Union. This is the magnitude of the task which confronts us.

Climate change, water shortages, rising population levels and spiralling food costs will add to the difficulties faced by the poorest regions. If we could not achieve progress in securing the millennium development goals at a time when the western world was experiencing boom times, as in recent years, what chance is there when it goes into recession, as is happening now?

It is imperative that Ireland gives the lead and that we meet the 0.7% gross national income target by 2012, as promised. I hope that even after a tough budget these people will not be neglected. We should do everything possible to achieve our targets. We should not sacrifice the right of starving children to food even when we find ourselves in a recession. Even in recessionary times our society is richer than such people could ever hope to be. They need us to deliver for them at this time.

This report is a welcome study, but it must be more than just a study. I was pleased to hear the Minister of State indicate that he has presented it to EU Ministers for their perusal and that it has been presented to the United Nations. We need this sort of action and such reports should be given to the people who make decisions. We must become facilitators to ensure that both the developed world and the developing world deliver on their commitments. In the 21st century there can be no moral, social or economic justification for a situation where millions of our fellow human beings do not get adequate food and face starvation. That is an abomination and something we must do all in our power to prevent.

I commend the task force on the study and on the report. Let us hope the conclusions of the task force will be acted upon as a matter of urgency.