David Norris (Independent)

I am glad to have received information from Dóchas that the 0.7% target in overseas development aid will be reached during the specified time. That is good but the problem is that this is dislodging attention from other issues. We are properly concerned with the international financial situation and its repercussions in Ireland but there are other matters around the world. I would like a debate on the situation in Zimbabwe. It is quite extraordinary but, alas, predictable that Robert Mugabe is doing what some of us felt he might. He is outflanking Morgan Tsvangirai by grabbing the three most significant ministries — defence, security and finance — and then offering to dump finance onto Morgan Tsvangirai in a trade-off. This is very serious and if we believe in democracy, we need to examine this situation.