Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are issues that I had intended raising they have been raised already, and I will concentrate on Malawi.

At short notice, I had the pleasure to invite Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karanga, northern Malawi, to Leinster House on Tuesday afternoon last. The first person I tried to contact when I heard he was coming was the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, because I am aware of the good work he, as Minister of State, is doing in Malawi. He was in London and was not back until 7 o'clock or 8 o'clock on Monday night, but I had a great chat with the bishop. Bishop Mtumbuka acknowledged the Irish aid that has been given to Malawi. As the Minister of State will be aware, Malawi is one of the poorest and most under developed countries in the world.

I acknowledge the affinity and links of my county of Louth and the Malawi committee of Louth County Council with Malawi. The Minister of State may not be aware of the work over the past ten years of that voluntary committee, including the county manager, councillors, office staff and administration, some of whom have voluntary deductions made from their weekly wages towards the Malawi funding. I acknowledge again my council colleague, Councillor Peter Savage, who initiated this approximately ten years ago. The committee is holding its seventh ball in June and I take this opportunity to invite the Minister of State to attend it.

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. The Louth local authority and the Malawi committee have raised upwards of €0.5 million in the past seven or eight years. Reference was made here to administration costs, money being spent unwisely, etc. I can assure the Minister of State on what has been done in Malawi. The committee has built schools and houses. As I stated previously, they have provided animals such as oxen, one of which is called after my good self - I will not say what the newspaper called me. To give a short list of what they have done, they have provided, as I stated, schools, houses and animals, water schemes and sanitation, the latter matter of which was mentioned by Senator Quinn. In addition, they have provided sewing machines for the women to make their own clothes, and bicycles to be used as ambulances.

I cannot not say enough about them. Perhaps I do not do enough myself. I know of individuals who send books to schools in Malawi despite the astronomical postage costs, but they have this commitment. Not one cent of the €500,000 has been used on administration. I sincerely congratulate the Minister of State because he takes his portfolio very seriously and is committed. Like Senator Cullinane, I appeal to him to do his best to maintain the levels of funding provided to less developed and poorer countries.