Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach seo um thráthnóna chun an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a phlé. Molaim an Roinn Gnothaí Eachtracha agus Trádála as ucht an méid atá á dhéanamh ag an Roinn chun feabhas a chur ar shaolta daoine in áiteanna áirithe ar fud an domhain.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for his submission. Undoubtedly, there is a great commitment not only from the State, but also from Irish people, who have been very generous, to contributing aid for catastrophes, natural and otherwise, across the globe. Our generosity in that regard is recognised. There is a great deal of public support for ensuring that Ireland continues to play a positive role in this regard. It is a tribute to the people that even in the economic crisis, when so many are economically challenged and suffering a lot of distress in their own lives, they still continue to support Irish Aid and want the Government to continue to do so too. In that regard, we must recognise that we have been falling down. In 2008, we were contributing 0.59% of our GNP and were well on our way to reaching the target of 0.7%, as committed to by many governments on many occasions. I regret the fact that we have now fallen back to 0.43% which indicates that we are going in the wrong direction. There is some criticism due to the Minister of State and the Government in this regard. A central plank of the Labour Party's manifesto and the programme for Government was to increase our overseas aid in order to achieve the 0.7% target.

An issue has arisen in recent years whereby money directed through governments in Africa, and one government in particular, was misappropriated. I know that many efforts were made to recover that money and as far as I know, the situation has now been corrected. However, as a matter of principle, we should be very careful to ensure that we only support governments which have good democratic, accountable and transparent systems in place. The whole purpose of this is to ensure that hard-earned taxpayer's money is directed and focused on those most in need. That money should be focused on tackling poverty, hunger and other health and deprivation issues. In particular, it should target children who suffer most.

The Minister of State mentioned the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone and other countries of west Africa. I commend all of those who have volunteered to help and those who are working on behalf of the State in dispensing public moneys in order to address this very serious health issue in those countries. Indeed, it could become a global health issue. Aid workers are very courageous in what they are doing there and I am glad to note that Irish people are to the forefront in that regard.

The Minister of State also made reference to the conflict in the Middle East. What is happening there at present is abhorrent and almost beyond comprehension. The Muslim world, and Arab countries in particular, are facing serious challenges. The conflict and the displacement and consequent suffering of people in the region is unconscionable, particularly given that the region is awash with money. Qatar and Saudi Arabia, for example, are extremely wealthy countries. I was surprised at the number of tributes paid to the former King of Saudi Arabia on his death, particularly in the context of where some Saudi Arabian money has been directed. It has, in fact, contributed to increasing conflict in the region and elsewhere. Unless politicians and states in the UN who perform at a global level are prepared to call it as it is, rather than looking to their own selfish, strategic interests, this will go on unabated and unchecked to the detriment of the lives of so many.

I have seen some of the refugee camps which have emerged as a result of the crisis in Syria. The Minister of State mentioned that 3.8 million people have left that country since the conflict began, with many more millions displaced internally. These are people who would have had a reasonably good lifestyle. Syrian people are hardworking and entrepreneurial and to see them now confined to refugee camps, where they and their children have no future to look forward to, is a sad reflection on the manner in which we function globally, politically, and economically.

I have also been to Palestinian refugee camps and met Palestinians who have been living there for years. Some of those camps have been in existence since 1948 which is shocking when one thinks of the wealth of the Western world. There has been a failure of political leadership and a lot of it is down to the failure of Israel to deal with the Palestinian issue. Palestinian people, for generations, have experienced nothing better than just existing in refugee camps with no hope of any future.

In that context it would be wrong not to refer to the Iraqi and Syrian areas occupied by what is euphemistically called the ISIS state, where some of the most heinous crimes are being committed and where an inhuman regime is operating. I and other Members condemn the manner in which the Jordanian soldier was killed after his capture. The Geneva Convention sets down a clear framework for dealing with prisoners of war. It is totally unacceptable that such a thing would happen.

I wish to make a concluding point, if the Chair will allow me. The Minister mentioned climate change in passing. Climate change should be a huge priority for Ireland and other countries that have a standard of living to which other countries can only aspire. Climate change is having a particular effect on those who are living in the greatest hardship in various parts of the world. I and members of the foreign affairs committee visited the Philippines recently and toured some areas there. I commend the work being done by Irish Aid and the various NGOs. We were with Plan Ireland, Concern and GOAL. Trócaire does tremendous work as well, although not specifically in that area but elsewhere. It was most impressive to see what they were doing in terms of the sustainable development of aid. They were training people to be carpenters and business people in order that they can not only repair the houses that were damaged in the tsunami but also provide a basis for the future from which they can rebuild when the aid is removed. However, we were told that the Philippines will have tremendous exposure to climate change. Many of the islands and much of the land mass of the Philippines might well be submerged by the sea if climate change is not tackled in a concentrated manner.

I wish the Minister well in his efforts and commend him on his work. However, we must intensify that work and ensure our colleagues in the EU follow suit.