James Heffernan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Last week, a documentary called "India's Daughter" was aired by the BBC which dealt with the brutal gang rape and killing of a young female medical student called Jyoti Singh in Delhi in December 2010. The documentary made for harrowing viewing but shone a spotlight on the treatment of women in Indian society. One of the defence attorneys who represents the rapists has said that if his own daughter had relations outside of marriage he would have no trouble in bringing her to his village and, in front of his family, he would douse her in petrol and set her on fire.

Ms Singh's rape and killing was an appalling crime which shook India. I am sure everyone is well aware that the documentary has since been banned. A Member of the other House, from my constituency, has commented that Irish Aid should be cut to developing countries. Last year I took a personal trip to India to see for myself where Irish Aid money goes. I was assisted by the diplomatic corps in the Irish Embassy in Delhi who kindly brought me to a programme taking place in one of the slums of Delhi. What I saw there would support even more money being spent on Irish Aid programmes. I say that because I saw how Irish money is spent in the slums of Delhi. It was spent on programmes to empower women, to help them become leaders in their communities and to teach them to be first responders for any medical emergencies. Young women were also educated up as far as a third level qualification in order for them to come back and educate other young women in their communities. The programmes provided a good positive cycle of improvements. Also, TB has been eradicated and there has not been a cholera outbreak there in decades. A proper sewerage system has also been installed in these slums but they remain terrible places to live.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is scheduled to visit Delhi as part of the St. Patrick Day's celebrations. I ask the Leader to request the Minister to visit the areas in Delhi where Irish Aid money is spent in order to see the work that is done there. If the Minister does so then he will return here with the message that the money has not been wasted but has been spent on excellent and well managed programmes.

I ask the Leader to request the Indian Government to end its censorship of the documentary entitled "India's Daughter" and to broadcast the programme to the Indian public. It is important that the Irish Government shows that we are strong when it comes to equality and equal rights.