Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On a personal note, it is very sad for any Minister or somebody who pursues a career in any walk of life, but in particular in politics which is a very public type of career, to be forced into a position where he or she must resign. I suppose many of us would empathise with Deputy Shatter in that regard and regret that it has come to this. On the other hand, it was probably a year overdue. Some 12 months ago, I raised in the House the fact that when the Minister released information which had been given to him in confidence by the Garda Commissioner that was of a politically sensitive nature, it raised questions not only for the Minister but for the Commissioner. Both have resigned in different circumstances. At that time, I felt that issue needed to be dealt with in a much more transparent way.

Like others, I join in the expressions of good wishes to Deputy Shatter's successor, who was the Opposition leader in this House in the last Seanad. She carried herself with a great degree of decorum and, as was said, was always measured and reasoned. I hope she does a good job in that most important Department she now controls.

I wish to raise an issue which also involves females, namely, the abduction of more than 250 young girls in Nigeria. I am pleased but disappointed that it has taken many weeks for the western world to put this on its radar in terms of addressing it. I do not know whether it would have happened but for the fact the World Economic Forum on Africa is taking place in Nigeria this week. It is appalling that this organisation, Boko Haram, has been allowed to create carnage over the past years, in particular on Christian communities and in respect woman in northern Nigeria. It is now extending it throughout Nigeria. I hope bodies like the United Nations, which get involved in many pseudo campaigns on various issues, would focus their minds on the substantive issue of life and death for these people.

Yesterday more than 100 people were killed in Nigeria by this organisation. I call on the Deputy Leader to arrange an early debate in the House specifically on Boco Haram, with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in attendance. More than one year ago I tabled motions on the Adjournment on this matter and I have raised it at meetings of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. We need to concentrate, and the world needs to act with greater decisiveness, on such serious human rights violations.