Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

One of the millennium development goals set in 2000 was to ensure that all of the world's children would have access to primary school education by 2015. We are half way to that time, but we are falling short. Some 75 million children are still without access to primary education, 20 times the population of our country. This morning, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former President Mary Robinson wrote to the leaders of the G8 nations, who will meet in Italy next week, to ask them to set up a global fund for education. It is something that President Obama promised during his election campaign, but he has not done it yet. The fund would be a great idea, as it would increase access for the world's children to education. Will the Leader ask the Minister to make a statement on the matter expressing his support for such a fund?