Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach and Members. I welcome the opportunity of speaking to the House today about the ongoing disturbing situation in Nigeria. I note the cross-party motion on the abduction of the schoolgirls in Nigeria and the quality and quantity of the contributions, which indicate clearly the deep interest among all Senators in this despicable activity.

I reiterate that the Government condemns in the strongest terms the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Borno state on 14 April 2014. Such acts of violence against schoolchildren are unacceptable. Ireland is a strong supporter of the rights of women and girls, particularly the right of girls to education. This is reflected in the Government's international development policy "One World, One Future" and Irish Aid's projects across Africa. The events in Nigeria have focused world attention on what is an intolerable situation.

Ireland supports fully the demands of the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, and the High Representative of the European Union, Catherine Ashton, that the schoolgirls be released and those responsible brought to justice. My colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, stated this explicitly in his statements on 16 April and 7 May when he condemned these violent activities against all Nigerians, particularly children. The offers of support to the Nigerian authorities by a number of our EU partners and the United States of America in helping to find the missing schoolgirls are welcome. The Nigerian authorities need support in their efforts to secure the safe release of the schoolgirls. We have urged the Nigerian Government to ensure it takes all appropriate steps to protect citizens and return the girls to their families and education.

At the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels yesterday, Ministers agreed Council conclusions addressing European Union concerns about the recent terrorist attacks in northern Nigeria and the suffering caused to the population. The Council strongly condemned the abduction of the schoolgirls and called for their immediate and unconditional release. The European Union underlined its readiness to support the Nigerian authorities in their efforts to defeat terrorism in all its forms in full respect of human rights.

Ireland has been active in a number of ways in its response to the abductions. Our embassy in Abuja is working closely with our European Union partners and others on the ground to maintain contact with the Nigerian authorities and support them in their efforts to locate and free the missing schoolgirls.

Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have also been in contact with the Nigerian Embassy in Dublin to express concern at the ongoing situation and to request regular updates regarding the actions taken by the Nigerian authorities to recover the abducted schoolgirls.

At the most recent session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last March I highlighted recent attacks by Boko Haram during discussions with the UN Special Representatives for Violence against Children and Children and Armed Conflict. Our objective was to draw attention to the ongoing trend of attacks on education around the world and to highlight the importance of ensuring that the right of children to education is upheld during and after conflict.

From an EU perspective, the EU is already actively supporting the Nigerian authorities in strengthening their capacity to provide security and combat terrorism. A European Union support programme to strengthen the investigation and prosecution of terrorist suspects will begin later this month. It will include EU technical assistance to counter violent extremism and radicalisation. I mention this EU support because it is important for us to remember that the security situation in Nigeria is complex and involves a highly diverse range of actors, including Boko Haram. The group's attacks are not limited to the abduction of these schoolgirls. For example, it is also responsible for the recent bombing of a bus terminal in the Nyanya area on the outskirts of Abuja.

Perhaps one of the most sinister elements of these abductions, and of Boko Haram, is the fact that the group's actions are based on an opposition to education, especially for girls. As I have mentioned, Ireland has been a consistent supporter of the rights of girls to education. That objective is reflected in Irish Aid programmes to assist girls and women to access education across the developing world, especially in Africa. It is clear to us in Government, and to the global community, that the Nigerian authorities have a clear moral obligation to do everything in their power to secure the safe release of these schoolgirls, and to seek to deal with the wider issues of providing security for its citizens and combating terrorism.

I have been to Nigeria twice in the past two years and have discussed its security situation with a wide range of stakeholders. Last year, during Ireland's Presidency of the EU, I represented the EU at the EU-Nigeria Ministerial Dialogue in Brussels in May 2013, on behalf of the European External Action Service and Catherine Ashton, during which the security and political challenges facing Nigeria were discussed in detail with the Nigerian Minister for Foreign Affairs. That happened just after the declaration of a state of emergency and internment in the three Nigerian states. At the time I advised that there was a need to tackle the root causes, and that as well as the military response, that we should look at the elimination of poverty, corruption and religious intolerance. We had a very long discussion on these issues with the Nigerian delegation that was led by the Nigerian Foreign Minister because the issues had come to the fore at that particular time.

I also maintain regular contacts with Nigerian citizens in Ireland, many of whom have expressed their outrage at this atrocious crime. I can assure Senators that until the missing girls are freed and returned safely to their families, and to education, the Irish Embassy in Abuja, in co-operation with the European Union and other key partners in Nigeria, will maintain pressure on the Nigerian authorities. I have asked officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to keep in close contact with the Embassy of Nigeria in Dublin so that the concerns of the Irish people are known and we can have full information on the efforts of the Nigerian authorities to find the abducted girls.

As Senators have noted, this is a fluid situation. Developments over the past 24 hours, including the release of the video that appeared to show a number of the young women being held in a forested area, as well as the demand for a prisoner exchange by Boko Haram, indicates that the group seeks to engage in negotiations. Ireland welcomes the offer of operational support from its EU partners, the United Kingdom and France, as well as from the United States, to help find the missing schoolgirls. However, primary responsibility to secure the safe release of the schoolgirls rests with the Nigerian authorities. It is important that the European Union stresses the need for the Government of Nigeria to take all appropriate steps to protect its citizens and bring the girls back to their families. It is important that we intensify the co-ordination of the European Union's efforts in Abuja in order to maximise the pressure and support we can bring to bear on the Nigerian authorities.

I plan to return to Nigeria later this year during which time I plan to have high level meetings with the Government representatives in Abuja.