Apologies have been received from Deputies Darragh O'Brien, Rory O'Hanlon, Vice Chairman, and Michael Noonan. Unfortunately, they are unable to be with us today.
It is a great honour and privilege to welcome the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, to our committee. Ireland is a strong advocate of the purposes, principles and potential of the United Nations. The UN embodies the principle of our common humanity and we have a shared interest as well as a moral obligation to promote that common humanity in the world today.
Ireland is deeply involved through our Irish aid programme, our missionaries, our NGOs and embassies in promoting the millennium development goals, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. We are proud of our people who do this work and we greatly appreciate the Secretary General's role in supporting this work.
The challenges confronting the world on a daily basis, such as global security, economic downturns, climate change, food and energy security, and global pandemics such as HIV-Aids, tuberculosis, malaria and even swine flu, we must tackle head on to demonstrate our commitment to a secure, safe and healthy future for all humanity. Together we have the people and the resources to achieve these objectives if we all have the will and the courage to do so.
Ireland is proud of its role in the history of the United Nations and we are equally committed to playing a full part in its future. Let us be clear, the challenges we face have intensified in the past year. We have seen the devastation caused across the world by the current economic crisis, particularly in the developing world. Reaching agreement on a comprehensive and inclusive approach to world trade has never been more urgent.
Ireland will continue to work to support the Secretary General's efforts for UN reform and we are grateful to him for the priority he has given to this task. Much remains to be done in the area of reform and he can be sure of our support with this difficult challenge.
Last year saw the 50th anniversary of the first occasion on which the Irish Defence Forces wore the blue beret. In the 50 years that followed Irish soldiers continued to wear that beret with pride and distinction. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice and we will always remember them with great pride.
Last year, in Paris, I had the pleasure of meeting Lieutenant General Patrick Nash, the then Irish Commander of the EU mission in Chad. More than 400 Irish personnel participated in the challenging mission which was mandated by the UN. It brings security and humanitarian aid to the many thousands of refugees and displaced people in camps on the eastern border of Chad. We feel a great sense of pride at the part being played by our Irish peacekeeping forces in that difficult and dangerous mission.
Secretary General, the eradication of poverty and hunger and meeting the millennium development goals are among the biggest challenges facing the world today. Despite the global financial crisis that has affected Ireland disproportionately vis-à-vis our fellow European partners, and the difficult adjustments to our aid budget, Ireland can be proud that we are now the sixth largest donor of official aid in the world in terms of GNP per head of population.
The situation in the Middle East, particularly the conflict between Israel and the people of Palestine, is an issue that has greatly occupied the Secretary General. We are deeply committed to the two state solution, which Ireland was the first to propose, and to the achievement of peace, security and prosperity for all the people of Israel and Palestine. We have travelled to Israel and the West Bank and in a fortnight we will send a delegation to Gaza to witness the tragic consequences of the conflict and to meet UN personnel from UNRWA, led by another Irishman, Mr. John Ging.
This committee has repeatedly condemned the use of violence on both sides in this conflict, and called for an end to the construction of illegal settlements and the opening of border crossings to allow humanitarian aid to get through. We respect the right of the Israeli and the Palestinian people to live in peace and harmony and in an agreed two state solution.
We congratulate the Secretary General on the interest he has shown in Burma-Myanmar. This committee has constantly called for greater democracy and human rights in Burma. We have been resolute in our calls for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and her fellow political prisoners. I understand that Mr. Ban recently returned from Burma and I was disappointed to hear that the military Government of Burma refused him access to Aung San Suu Kyi while he was there.
The situation in Darfur remains extremely volatile and is also of grave concern. Just four days ago, an Irish aid worker from Dublin, Sharon Commins, was kidnapped along with her colleague from GOAL, Hilda Kawuki from Uganda. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has sent a high level mission to the area to intensify efforts to secure the release of both women. I am glad to say that the Sudanese authorities have co-operated fully with the Irish mission to date. This committee will raise their cases with the Sudanese ambassador when we meet him here tomorrow.
I now invite the Secretary General to address the committee following which we will have responses from members.