Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Members will join me in expressing sympathy and extending condolences to the victims of Hurricane Matthew which is moving over the Bahamas causing flooding, rain and destructive winds as we speak. According to reports late last evening, the death toll in the Caribbean rose to 26 - four people reportedly died in the Dominican Republic and 22 were killed in Haiti. I understand that the overwhelming majority of homes in the south west of Haiti have been affected with tens of thousands of people in shelters. Hospitals are overflowing. People are taking refuge in schools and churches. Requests continue for government help in transporting those whose homes have been devastated, many of whom live in poverty-stricken conditions.

In February, my colleague asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to make a statement on the growing unrest following demonstrations and protests in Haiti after the postponement of the presidential election. Eight months on, that election planned for Sunday has been postponed in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

Today the hurricane will move through the Bahamas where evacuations are under way. It is 7.20 a.m. there as we speak and the hurricane continues to gain strength after being somewhat weakened by mountainous terrain in Cuba.

I am sure I speak for all sides of the House when I send condolences to and express solidarity with those injured, and the loved ones and the communities of those killed. The Minister, Deputy Flanagan, should urgently assess the situation and determine if Ireland can play a part in assisting in the humanitarian crisis. We urgently need to provide for that.