Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, for being in the House this morning. I want to highlight the disturbing kidnapping of 315 children from St. Mary's primary and secondary schools in Papiri in Nigeria. It is a school run by a religious order. The superior in the school is a lady called Sr. Mary Barron. She has been seen speaking on the news in recent days. It is horrendous. It is what every parent fears: children taken from their dormitories at night and families left helpless. We know in Ireland that schools have to be a safe place. What happened in Nigeria this week is an attack not only on the community but on the basic right of children to learn, grow and be safe. I want to express my personal support for Sr. Mary, the Irish missionary community overseas and the families who are worried about their children and are living through this nightmare.

I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the steps Ireland can take directly or through the EU or UN to support efforts to secure their safe return. I know 50 children have escaped but if there is any additional diplomatic or humanitarian support needed, Ireland should be ready.

I also want to acknowledge the work of such volunteers as Mary from Donegal, who have devoted their lives to protecting vulnerable children. They should know we in this House stand with them today.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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I thank my colleague Senator McCarthy and welcome the Minister of State. What is going on here is the Nigerian Government is failing to protect its own citizens. It is vital that pressure be put on President Tinubu. I recommend listening to what people like Cardinal John Onaiyekan have said in recent days about what is going on. He points out this is not a Christian-Muslim conflict, though there are questions about the persecution of Christians in different parts of the world and questions of religious freedom. It is perhaps time for this Government to think about Ireland having an envoy for religious freedom.

This particular instance is the abduction of over 300 children and about a dozen staff members from a school with a strong connection to Ireland. It was founded partly by an SMA father, Donall O'Cathain. It has about 600 children. Why do children board in such a school? Because it is too far for them to travel to school. This is an activity of the Catholic Church that has been going on for many years. The school is run by the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles, an order founded by the Irish SMA Fathers to minister to women in western Africa. They are celebrating 150 years of their wonderful work this year. Many women in that order went out facing disease and danger and many had short lives in the mission territory but the work continues to this day.

Sr. Mary T. Barron, who is the international leader of the congregation based in Rome, was in Ghana when all this happened. She is making exactly the right point and showing the same concern for the parents of the children and the families of the adults abducted. Cardinal Onaiyekan asks whether there is a question of internal sabotage and whether within Nigerian Government ranks are members of Boko Haram, perhaps, or people who support terrorism. The concerted effort that needs to happen is the demand that this security and criminality problem - not a Christian-Muslim conflict - be addressed. The Nigerian Government must protect its own citizens. The least our Government can do, given our country's connection with this place and the wonderful work done by Irish missionaries to this day in Africa, is stand in solidarity with these people and put pressure on the Nigerian Government, hopefully in partnership with other governments. Action must be taken to protect the children and adults in this situation and in the other situations that have arisen far too often in Nigeria.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas le gach duine. I share in both Senators' horror at what has happened to these beautiful little children and their teaching staff. I thank the Senators for raising this important issue and share the deep concern they expressed at the horrific news of the large-scale abduction of over 300 children and 12 teachers from St. Mary's Catholic school in Nigeria last Friday.I also acknowledge separate abductions of school children which have happened in recent weeks. Unfortunately, this is not something new in Nigeria. I welcome the news on Tuesday of the release of 24 children recently abducted from a separate school in Kebbi state. First and foremost, my thoughts are with the abducted children and teachers from St Mary's. The majority of the children who were abducted from St Mary's are very young, of primary school age, and I know I am not alone in expressing my grave concern for their welfare. The news that 50 of the children escaped and have been safely returned to their families is most welcome, and my sincere hope is that the remaining 253 schoolchildren and 12 staff members will be swiftly reunited with their families. I am thinking of the parents and loved ones of all those taken. Their worry and anguish is unimaginable.

Many parts of Nigeria, particularly rural and semi-urban areas, do not have a significant police presence, which makes the task of providing security to populations in those areas challenging. Ireland, bilaterally and as a member state of the EU, works with the Nigerian authorities and with UN and international partners to promote peace and security in areas affected by armed groups and insecurity. The severity of last Friday’s event and the severe escalation in violent attacks and mass kidnappings which has been experienced in Nigeria over recent weeks has been recognised by the Government of Nigeria. We understand that all efforts are being made to locate and secure the release of the abducted students and staff members of St Mary's School. The recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers, announced by the President of Nigeria is welcome, as are plans by the federal government to upgrade police training facilities nationwide. The President's decision not to attend the G20 Summit and the AU-EU Summit is indicative of the extent of the security issues being faced and the intent of the President to address these.

As Members will be well aware, Ireland has a long history in Nigeria, not least through the work of many Irish missionaries. I am aware in particular of the close links of Irish missionaries to St Mary's School, and both Senators outlined that very eloquently this morning. Our ambassador and our team at the Irish embassy are liaising closely, and at a high level, with relevant contacts in Nigeria and are continuously monitoring the situation. The team there is liaising closely with EU colleagues on the ground.

People-to-people ties between Ireland and Nigeria date back to the early 19th century when Irish missionaries first arrived in Nigeria. The connection with St Mary's, which was alluded to regarding the nun from Donegal, does give us an extra role of responsibility in supporting, as an Irish Government, in this time of strife. Nigerian political figures regularly pay tribute to the role of Irish missionaries in the development of the country, particularly in the education and health sectors. I express my appreciation for the role missionaries have played in supporting the education of so many children across Nigeria.

I assure both Senators that the Government is committed to working alongside all relevant partners and with the Nigerian authorities to support St Mary's School and all those affected by this gravely concerning situation. We will continue to prioritise strengthening peace and security in Nigeria and the broader region.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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It is clear the Minister of State is very sympathetic and that the Government is paying attention to this. Perhaps, on occasions like this, the Nigerian ambassador could be called in, specifically because Ireland must claim ownership of this issue, given the strong connections we have.

Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)
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I accept the Minister of State's assurance regarding our embassy getting involved over there. The Minister of State also mentioned in her statement about the other school in the Kebbi state. It shows a pattern that is not welcome. Certainly it should be stated to the Nigerian ambassador here. In other areas of human rights, I was attending a protest recently at the Nigerian embassy regarding students who had been arrested and imprisoned for their homosexuality. It is 2025 and it is unacceptable. I thank the Minister of State for her assurances, but I ask her to arrange this as a matter of absolute priority.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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In terms of the Senator's practical suggestions regarding the Nigerian ambassador, I will most certainly as the new Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee, and the Taoiseach to follow up on both Senator's suggestions.