Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I agree with all of what my colleagues have been saying on this topic and about the Minister of State. A few months ago, some students of mine and I met the Minister of State on the plinth and they received an instant tutorial on whatever he was working on. They will remember it for a very long time. I thank the Minister of State for that. His enthusiasm shows through.

Senator Reilly was worried that not many people take an interest in Seanad debates. I believe they are very influential, however. I got some figures from the television companies and noted that there are probably tens of thousands of people watching this debate. It will be influential and will support the Minister of State in his work.

The conflicts the Minister of State has been describing have racist and sectarian elements. One function of bicameralism is to dilute the monopoly of power that obtains in a unicameral system. Our Seanad was founded with this in mind. The Canadians are interested in this also. Governance is needed in some countries. Of course, we are very good at dealing with symptoms when it all breaks down and people need food, shelter and water but, ultimately, the countries affected need a better system of governance. Senator Mullen and others mentioned the role of the Army and public servants and the role we might play in addressing water problems. If we have a surplus here due to the amalgamation of water departments in the State, it would meet a great need. Staff associated with railways, roads and public administration in general could have a role. We have built up an independent state over the years. If our experience can help, the Minister of State might think of it as part of the package.

We have learned to deal with sectarianism. In our time, we were helped by the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and individuals from Canada and Finland. If we can help when people in a certain country fall out with one another, we should do so. As Winston Churchill said about politics, “to jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war.” We have a lot of experience in peacemaking so the role of peacemaker would be an extremely valuable one for us to play.

I echo all that my colleagues said about the countries the Minister of State is helping. With regard to the welcome for the ceasefire, I note the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs issued just this week an urgent notice on South Sudan. It has warned that the rainy season will be starting in just a few months, making it difficult to transport supplies and leaving some locations completely cut off. This is urgent, as I am sure the Minister of State and his officials are well aware. He will certainly have the support of everybody in the House in dealing with this, as he knows.

With regard to the Central African Republic, it is felt the new president, Ms Catherine Samba-Panza, will be a beacon of hope. One reason is that she is a seasoned politician. Many of the problems in question arise because of the collapse of what we would regard as politics and give and take. The new president is a Christian, which brings in the need for measures to combat sectarianism. Another advantage of her presidency, about which colleagues opposite will be delighted to hear, is that she is a woman. We wish her well in helping her country.

On Syria, I noted concerns expressed in The New York Times this week. Its headline was "Syrian Talks Disrupted by Congress's Approval of Aid to Rebels". As other Senators have said, if we are trying to make peace, we might at least make a representation to the effect that aid should not be military aid. We should use our skills in governance and in the areas of water, railways, roads, public service and education, and we should follow the noble example of the Army. If we can assist in policing, we should do so. We should bear in mind the great traditions of the Garda. All of these skills should be available to the Minister of State to support him in the excellent work that is so badly needed in the three countries in question. There is a need to solve the immediate problems of famine and refugees.

South Sudan is one of the newest countries in the world. Helping such countries to set up systems of government that work on behalf of all the people is a task in which we have considerable experience. I am sure the Minister of State will bring this experience to the countries that need it so badly.