John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to support the motion and the Minister of State's actions. Before the earthquake, Haiti was a tragedy. It has an interesting history, in that it was the first black-led republic and the first independent Caribbean state. However, everything went downhill. The island's former colonial masters, the French, insisted on reparations that were only completed in 1949. Billions of euro in today's money was taken out of a fragile and poor economy. Haiti got no support. Naturally, the colonial powers believed that Haiti could have been a template for elsewhere, so they ostracised the state and ensured it would not receive any help or support. Over the years, this made a significant difference, so much so that many people's perception of Haiti is of a country associated with the Tonton Macoute, a powerful underworld group, Papa Doc and Baby Doc Duvalier, people who raided their state's coffers, and voodoo. Much of this image is wrong. Unfortunately, much of it is also correct. For example, books and films like The Comedians and "Live and Let Die" portrayed the drug culture and the fear engendered in people.

According to the Haitian Government, 150,000 people have died. There has been widespread destruction of infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, water and electricity supplies have been severely disrupted and there is a growing concern about the spread of disease. The Irish response has been excellent. At the outset, the Government pledged emergency assistance for the victims, deployed specialist emergency teams and freighted consignments of emergency supplies on behalf of the Irish people. The Government approved €600,000 in emergency funding to the UN to respond to the disaster. Given the fact that our Republic comprises 4.2 million people, the public's generosity in giving €10 million has been outstanding. Further emergency aid is on its way and all of the major support agencies, including GOAL, Concern and the Irish Red Cross, are in Haiti supporting its people.

There is nothing sinister in the way in which the Americans have come on board. Their taking control was badly needed, as there would have been a complete societal breakdown. Haiti is a country of 10 million people in 27,000 sq. km, slightly larger than Munster. Even before this disaster, aid was needed in light of Haiti's deprivation and deforestation and its lack of business and agriculture. At least now there will be an opportunity for it to get that aid. I support Senators who asked for a Marshall aid-type plan for Haiti. If there is any nation that needs support and has had more than its fair share of man-made and natural disasters, it is Haiti. In 2004, floods killed 2,600 people. Much of the flooding owed to deforestation. When the rains came, they flowed down the mountains and people were flooded. In 2004, tropical storms killed 1,900. In 2007, they triggered mudslides and floods. In 2008, three hurricanes hit Haiti and a tropical storm killed 800. Now, an earthquake has struck Port-au-Prince. The Minister of State is acting correctly and swiftly, ensuring that Irish aid is co-ordinated and going to the right place. It is always a concern with aid in ensuring it goes to the right people in sufficient quantity. 6 o'clock

The next step has to be the rebuilding of Haiti. As has been achieved in many other states, it appears that it is now time to build a new city for Haiti. Port-au-Prince is built on a fault line and is in the direct line of tsunamis and hurricanes. The building of new cities has been successfully achieved in Israel and Egypt, where whole areas have been moved from the Pyramids, creating full communities with infrastructure and community centres. This can and must be done again. The amount of aid this requires is in the region of €3 billion. In light of the supports currently available internationally, this could be reasonable.

When the country is being rebuilt it should be done correctly and to the standard that is possible. This month alone, on 19 January, the national planning and building commission in Israel approved a newly planned town that will house 50,000 Israelis in the Negev. That is just one example of many towns and cities which have been rebuilt. It can be done and is possible in engineering and architectural terms. We should be part of that project and look to rebuild on the basis of what is necessary for the country.

What is also necessary for that country is a government that works and a stability for that government. The constant coups and counter-coups, as well as the corruption that is endemic in the police force and public service in Haiti, must be stamped out. There must be a new and fresh start. We do not want to hear in two years that aid has been siphoned off and moneys did not get to the people living in shanty towns in areas that will be flooded when the rain comes.

Ireland has a very good and proud track record in this area. We have responded immediately. It is good to see that at times when people are recognising that we are in recession, they still gave generously again. The Government, on behalf of the Irish people, also gave generously. I commend the Minister of State on his work and ask him to continue it to the next level and take an interest in a former French colony that has suffered more deprivation than most. It is now on its knees and needs help.

Port-au-Prince is not the first city to be destroyed. Nagasaki and Hiroshima were destroyed and 2,000 years ago Pompeii met destruction. The capital city of Montserrat was rebuilt after a volcano erupted. It is possible in the Caribbean and now is the time for us to support the overall effort to rebuild the country. The immediate problem is to get the aid as quickly and as evenly distributed as possible so all people can benefit from it immediately. This would save lives and allow people to be settled immediately in short-term housing. We could then look to the future for Haiti, which has suffered long enough. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Power, on his continuing work.