Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Jul 1968

Vol. 236 No. 4

Committee on Finance. - Vote 43 — Defence.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Hilliard)

I move:

That a supplementary sum not exceeding £100,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1969, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Minister for Defence, including certain Services administered by that Office; for the Pay and Expenses of the Defence Forces; and for payment of a Grant-in-Aid.

The purpose of this Supplementary Estimate is to make provision for a sum of £100,000 which, as has already been announced, the Government propose to make available to the Irish Red Cross Society for the purchase of food and medicines in this country for despatch to Nigeria, particularly to the distressed districts in the eastern area.

Deputies will be aware of the widespread sufferings caused by the continuing civil strife in Nigeria. The conflict has displaced countless numbers of people from their homes, particularly in the eastern and south-eastern areas, and they are experiencing conditions of great want and hunger. Food supplies are scarce and there has already been widespread starvation and malnutrition, especially among children. There is every indication that the situation is likely to deteriorate disastrously unless supplies of food and medicines can be made available in large quantities without delay.

International relief organisations are actively engaged in trying to relieve the situation. In this country the Irish Red Cross Society have launched an appeal for cash and supplies. The Irish Hierarchy have given the Red Cross a generous donation of £100,000 and business concerns and private individuals have been very generous in their response. However, in view of the magnitude of the humanitarian problem, the Government felt that they should now offer a substantial contribution towards the relief efforts. It was considered that £100,000 would be an appropriate contribution and that it would be best to make this sum available through the Irish Red Cross Society in view of their long experience in dealing with matters of this kind. The society are now urgently engaged in making the necessary arrangements for the despatch to the International Committee of the Red Cross of the material aid to be provided.

I feel sure that Deputies generally will be in agreement with the purpose of this Supplementary Estimate. It seems only right and proper that we should make this practical demonstration of our great concern to help in relieving the serious human distress that is now so widespread in Nigeria.

Mr. Cosgrave

There will be general agreement with the Supplementary Estimate introduced by the Minister for the purpose of providing aid for the sorely afflicted people of Nigeria and Biafra. The reports which have been coming from those areas indicate that the human misery and suffering there are very grave. There is, I think, a generally accepted realisation in this country that we have an obligation to use our best efforts to provide relief and assistance to the maximum possible extent within our means. Indeed, the suffering and the widespread famine, particularly in the eastern area, have reminded the people of this country of the famine which existed here a little over 100 years ago and impressed on all concerned with the welfare of people and with humanitarian considerations that there is a very serious obligation on countries that have sufficient supplies of food and medicines to use their best endeavours to alleviate and ease the very serious conditions which exist in other countries. We, therefore, agree with the proposal to provide relief for Nigeria and Biafra.

In assenting to this proposal, it is essential that we should express our concern that the supplies which are sent to those areas will reach the people and the areas which are in such dire need. It has been the accepted procedure or the generally usual procedure for this country to channel supplies through our Red Cross Society to the International Red Cross Organisation. In the main that method of sending relief to stricken areas has proved satisfactory and has provided relief where needed. There is, however, some evidence that in this particular case consideration should be given to sending some of the relief through an alternative method. I would urge the Minister and the Government to consider the desirability of consulting with at least one other relief organisation, Caritas Internationalis. So far as this country is concerned we are not concerned with nor have we any desire to get involved in the different political or tribal disputes which have unfortunately caused this conflict but we are concerned with the suffering of the people in the areas concerned. We have been moved by the very grave accounts of the hardship and misery, and, indeed, the obvious imminence of widespread starvation and lack of food, as well as lack of medical care and attention. We, therefore, have a duty and a responsibility to ensure so far as supplies of medicine and supplies of food are sent from this country that they reach the people affected and that relief is provided in the areas where it is most needed.

There is, as I say, evidence to suggest that some of the supplies which have been sent through the International Red Cross have not reached their destinations because of the internal conflict between the Federal authorities and the authorities or the people responsible in the breakaway Biafra region. We are not concerned with those internal disputes or dissensions but we are concerned to ensure that the supplies sent reach the areas where they are most needed. Here I want to mention one other fact. If there is one criticism more than another that can be made of the United Nations with regard to this matter it is that their approach is too legalistic; they are adopting a legaltic or formal approach. That type of approach may be all right when political aspects are being considered when a ceasefire is secured, if it is possible to do so, but in supplying the needs of suffering humanity the important thing is to get the food and medicines in in the quickest possible way. I, therefore, want to urge that the Government should consider most carefully the methods by which supplies can be got in. While this is not strictly a matter for the Minister's Department there is, nevertheless, an obligation on him and on the Government to ensure that when public money is voted here for the relief of distress that every avenue open to us should be used, either in the United Nations or otherwise, to bring hostilities to an end and to look for a ceasefire.

It was for that reason I expressed concern at Question Time at the fact that arms were being supplied to the Federal authorities by Britain and Russia. It is not for us to concern ourselves with the political question but we have an obligation to see that when we are taking steps to provide relief we also take steps to ensure that the international organisation, of which we are a member, exerts itself to the maximum possible extent and avails of a realistic approach, when people are starving and when there is misery, want and hunger, to see that every possible step is taken to ensure that a ceasefire takes place. When we read of the position of, say, eight million people in an area the size of either Munster and Leinster or Leinster and Connacht, and in an area that is very largely devoid of food and of the means of producing adequate quantities of food, then we can get before our minds and in our consideration of this problem a realistic understanding of the gravity of the situation.

There is an obligation on us to exert our diplomatic and other endeavours towards arriving at a cease-fire. I appreciate that this is not only the Minister's responsibility as a member of the Government but in voting, as we do with approval, this money we indicate the concern which is felt and of the duty of all sections in the country to provide what relief we can. In the context that the Irish people are conscious of the contribution which the Irish missionaries, both religious and lay, and other people have made in those areas we are anxious to show, as a country who in our past history have suffered acutely from famine and want at a time when we had few friends, when we have now independence and the means to provide assistance for people in other lands similarly affected as we were a little over 100 years ago, that we want to help those people. At the same time, we have an obligation to exert ourselves to the maximum extent and to ensure that no legalistic or formalistic approach prevents us achieving the aims we desire, to provide relief for suffering humanity and not merely to bring succour by way of food and medicine but also to bring hostilities to an end.

Mr. James Tully

In expressing the support of the Labour Party to this proposal before the House, I do so in the knowledge that I suppose there is nobody in this House who knows more about the situation than the Minister himself because of the connection of his family with this area. We are glad indeed that they have been able to get out of Biafra without too much of a scar on them. They were on missionary work there and we are all glad they were able to get out of it. At the same time, it must be a great sorrow to them and to the hundreds of other people who were involved in missionary teaching work in Biafra to have to leave everything they built up over the years behind them in ruins. Indeed, I was speaking to a good Sister who was perhaps the most recent person to come out of it a week ago and she told me that their greatest worry was whether they would be able to get back and take up where they left off.

When we talk about hunger here, we tend to think of the day we had not got our lunch, the day we had to do something and as a result had to wait until late evening to have a meal. This lady told me that as long ago as the end of April there were literally thousands of refugees who could only be guaranteed one reasonable meal per fortnight. In the face of that, surely nobody in the civilised world is doing enough towards ending that situation. The Government are giving £100,000. Other organisations are giving a lot of money. As the previous speaker said, is there any guarantee that all our efforts to help will not be in vain. Will the suffering in fact have died before this aid reaches them?

I am not an expert on these things. Therefore, it would be unfair of me to make a suggestion. Surely it is ridiculous to suggest that the only way in which the Red Cross can get food into Biafra is through the Federal troops who are naturally suspect. Surely if the food is being passed through enemy lines we cannot blame the people of Biafra, no matter how badly off they may be, if they suspect that it may be tampered with. It is all right to say they are afraid that arms and ammunition will be smuggled through as packets of food, but is it not up to the free world to ensure that food is sent directly to those people? I am informed that even if it were acceptable, the flow of food through Nigeria could lead to big trouble as it will pass on so far by land to the base where it is needed most that it could be many months before it could reach the people who need it. It appears that the only way it can be got in is to fly it in. If it cannot be flown in with the authority of the Federal Government, surely the obvious thing is for sympathetic Governments to get food in by some other route.

Our Party were particularly critical of the Minister for External Affairs. He gave a fairly tart answer when he was asked if any attempt or offer of mediation could be made by the Irish Government. The answer he gave was that if that offer were made, the suggestion would be that we were playing to the gallery and Deputy Seán Dunne's comment was very true — the gallery are dying of starvation so it does not matter whether we are playing to the gallery or not. Surely some effort should be made in this direction? If ever there was a case of man's inhumanity to man, with countless thousands hungry, this is it.

The Minister for Defence is doing everything he possibly can within the Government to do something helpful to improve the situation but a bigger effort must be made. I would suggest that extreme pressure be put on those who can make an effort to settle the conflict in order to try to bring hostilities to an end. There are two issues. One is the situation of people dying from lack of food and the second is that even if they live and are well fed, there is a grave danger that they will eventually all be killed. If we can believe what we hear, and we must believe the stories of the religious organisations' representatives who have come out of Biafra, the Governments on both sides for their own military objectives seem to be prepared to sacrifice everybody, even if it means killing every person in the country. Some of the stories we have been told are too horrifying to repeat and we talk calmly about giving £100,000 for relief. We cannot say whether if food is being bought and sent on, it will ever reach the people.

I do not want to dictate to the House. I am sure there are others who want to comment on this. However, I should like to express the opinion that no matter what effort we make to relieve the hunger and to end hostilities, whether we are laughed at for making that effort or not, I believe it is well worth while.

Sir Anthony Esmonde

I think it is right that the Minister for Defence should be the Minister to bring in this vote of help for the people in Biafra and Nigeria. In my view, the Government have been extraordinarily lax in relation to the problem that exists there. I should like the Minister for Defence to know — he has been closely associated with that part of the world through his own relations — that any criticisms I may make are not directed against him but are directed to the Government of which he is a member and for which he must accept responsibility.

The vote of £100,000 is a late attempt to show that the Government have some interest anyway in the appalling situation that exists in Nigeria today. All of us in this House are fully in support of that effort on the part of the Government, but everybody here is conscious of the difficulties that exist in the area where the conflict rages and the difficulties which exist in supplying people who are most in need with aid. Quite recently the Catholic Bishop of Owerri and the Protestant Bishop of Owerri made a united appeal to the world to help the people who are dying every day in the occupied territories of Biafra. There are 15,000,000 people in the disaster area and owing to the vicissitudes of the war they have been reduced to an area the size of Munster. The greater number of the people exist on small farms by growing the food that keeps them barely in sustenance in normal times. The majority have had to leave their homesteads and have become refugees, thrown on the help of the world and any food that is available to them.

I would not like to feel, nor I am sure would the Minister, that the £100,000 they have given, together with the other subscriptions given to the Red Cross, might go the wrong way. The military station at Port Harcourt which was the only opening to the sea fell recently. With it fell the aerodrome and the position is that they had to erect in Biafran territory, and that is where the real starvation exists, temporary aerodromes. They are secret and anything that comes in has to come in at night. These aerodromes are camouflaged during the day as they know they will be destroyed by the Federal forces of Nigeria who have had supplies of arms from Russia, the United Kingdom, Czechoslovakia and other countries, whereas the Biafrans are fighting to maintain their existence with practically nothing. It is for that reason that any food that goes into Biafra has to go in at night.

When I was questioning the Minister for External Affairs here this afternoon, I pointed out to him that the International Red Cross conduct their mercy expeditions through the agents of the existing government. As Deputy Cosgrave very rightly said, this is being treated by the Government as a legalistic operation. I fear, and many people in this country fear as well — because they have expressed their opinion to me — that there is a risk that this money voted by the Irish Government and the money subscribed here by rich and poor alike may be transmitted to the wrong area.

I should like an assurance from the Minister that there is a guarantee that this food will go into the area for which it is largely intended. I do not deny for a moment that it may be necessary for some of it to go into Federal Nigeria itself, where conditions are not too good, but we must concentrate on the eastern territory, now known as Biafra, where so many deaths are occurring due to starvation. For that reason, I join with the Leader of my Party, Deputy Cosgrave, in asking the Minister to ensure that some of the supplies will go through another organisation. Caritas Internationalis, a non-political organisation, are very suitable for this work and have aleady done work in this respect. The brain behind that organisation is, all honour to him, an Irish priest. That organisation can deal efficiently with this matter and can get the supplies into Biafra where they are needed, as they have already done in the past.

From the point of view of the eastern region, the military situation is hopeless. They now have no major aerodrome or port of entry left. Therefore, the only way in which food can safely and expeditiously be sent into Biafra is from the islands off the west coast of Africa. I understand that a ship of a British line is taking it to Santa Isabella, Fernando Po, an island off the west coast of Africa. Fernando Po is a very rich island. Formerly, is was a Spanish colony. Now it has a government of its own. It imports a large labour force to carry out the necessary work on the island. In the main, that labour force comes from Federal Nigeria. Therefore, there is considerable apprehension among those who know — and the people who know are the people who made the appeal, that is, the two Bishops of Owerri — in regard to the risk that this food, intended in the main for Biafra, will never get there at all.

There are other islands off the coast of Africa, controlled by another European power, whose record in this unfortunate business is a better one than the Irish record — the record we here should have as a nation that should primarily be interested in this particular situation. Anyway, Caritas Internationalis are in touch with that nation and are in a position to ensure that the food will go in there and go in there immediately. I can assure the Minister from the depths of my heart that there probably has never been a greater hunger or famine crisis in the world than now exists in that unhappy country. This Government must accept collective responsibility if they fail to help the territory for which this country — our missionaries, our priests, our nuns, our sisters and our lay folk — contributed so much to evangelise, to build hospitals and schools in, and so on. Those things are now being swept away. However, that is not the issue here this afternoon. The issue here this afternoon is the saving of the lives of those people in Biafra for whom they are morally and religiously responsible. They feel this crisis as deeply as anyone else and they feel it is the duty of the Irish Government to stand behind them. I urge the Minister to consider these facts and to ensure that the food reaches the destination for which it is intended.

Other Deputies have referred briefly to the question of trying to get a cease-fire. I would ask the Minister for Defence, with all the force he may command in this Government, with all the knowledge he has of that particular area, to convey to his colleagues in the Government that the one country, to my mind, that has not only an opportunity but a duty — and that will probably succeed — to restore peace to that unhappy land, is the Irish nation. That being so, I ask the Minister — I made this appeal to his colleague, the Minister for External Affairs, on several occasions — to ensure that a political delegation will go out from this country as soon as possible to ensure that peace is restored there. The information I had from His Lordship, the Bishop of Owerri, only the other day, was that no matter how much or how quickly food goes in, it will not prevent people there from dying of starvation and that the only thing that will rectify conditions in that unhappy land is peace. With our record and with our tradition, it is our duty to play our part in seeking a peaceful solution in this unhappy tragedy.

Mr. P. O'Donnell

We in this country who are accustomed to paying £100 per plate for political patronage — pardon; is the Minister going to interrupt me and to deny it——

Mr. Hilliard

No, I am not interrupting.

Mr. P. O'Donnell

——may think it miserable to offer a sum of £100,000 for the relief of starvation in a part of the world in which many Irishmen and many Irishwomen have played such a prominent part. May I join with the Minister's colleague, Deputy Tully of Meath, in congratulating the Minister on the personal safety of his own family in the area?

Though this may be a meagre sum, there is a duty on us to ensure that we do all we possibly can to see that the proceeds of these moneys which we vote will reach the destination for which we intend them. I understood from the Minister in his opening speech, although I had not a copy of it, that it is proposed to buy food and material in this country and then to forward it to the International Red Cross and to request them to deliver it. It is notorious that medicines in this country are very expensive indeed. It might be more beneficial to the people if we gave the money to whatever organisation through which we propose to channel the relief and leave it to them to buy in the best possible markets. That should not apply to foodstuffs but it should apply to medicines and other drugs.

We contribute to the United Nations establishment whose duty it is to ensure that peace shall reign throughout the world. We contribute to the International Red Cross whose duty it is to alleviate suffering and starvation throughout the world. There should be greater liaison between the International Red Cross and the United Nations. There should be some force or other which would ensure that relief, when granted by the International Red Cross, is delivered to the destination for which it is intended. Some relief force should be established by the United Nations. It cannot be done immediately as we are now at the height of this crisis but it should be done for the future to ensure that the International Red Cross will be facilitated in every way in carrying out the merciful task for which they have been established.

I do not think that the United Nations are playing the part they should play in this matter. They have peace-keeping forces in several parts of the world and we contribute a fair sum towards that peace-keeping corps. As I said, if the United Nations could have some liaison with the International Red Cross to ensure that the moneys which this House votes for the relief of starvation in this war-ravished area of Africa would eventually reach there, it would be of considerable assistance to the unfortunates who are suffering there. Recently we read the book The Great Hunger and it brought home to us that we sometimes fail to realise what our ancestors had to suffer at that time. It is only when we read articles or books of that sort that we realise this but here we have the viva voce evidence of our missionaries who are returning from Africa of the suffering and damage that is being caused in that area. We should endeavour to ensure that every avenue of approach, both in regard to peace and in regard to getting supplies to these unfortunates, is explored. If the Irish Red Cross cannot get supplies through for the reasons stated here today, it might be possible to consult Caritas Internationalis and ensure that between the two organisations at least the greater portion of the money we vote will bring relief to the people for whom it is intended.

Mr. P.J. Burke

I welcome this generous gesture of the Minister for Defence for the suffering people in Biafra. We in the Red Cross Society are deeply concerned about what the people are suffering in that country. No matter who they are or what they are, the Irish Red Cross Society have tried to do their best, through the International Red Cross Society, to bring relief to starving people and needy people in any part of the world. Some cousins of mine who had been in Biafra have returned home and they say that conditions there are very bad.

The previous speaker referred to the United Nations. I have no doubt that there are great humanitarians attached to all international organisations but there is a particular problem when you have civil war in a country. It is very difficult for us to do anything except in a charitable way. Everybody will appreciate that there are thousands and thousands of people dying in Biafra every day. No civil war in any part of the world was ever as bad as this one because very often in civil wars people are not dying of hunger. With our standards here, it is very difficult for us to understand how this could have happened and how so many thousands are dying. The refugee problem is a big one and the only thing we can do is to help to relieve their suffering. As a Christian people, as a people who are always anxious to help others, this is the best thing we can do. I hope that reason will prevail in this conflict. It is a matter of indifference to us whether they want to cede from the remainder of Nigeria because as a charitable people we are only anxious to do what we can to help the starving multitudes.

I hope that all international organisations of goodwill will break down any barriers in order to ensure that the people will not die of hunger. As a member of the Red Cross Society and one of the founder members of the Society in Dublin, I want again to offer our heartiest congratulations to the Minister and the Government. The Minister had his own children teaching out there and he knows the position. To repeat what I said last week, he is doing God's work.

Dr. O'Connell

I welcome this contribution but I only wish that it was five times as great having regard to the seriousness of the problem. A sum of £500,000 would not be too much to send them. We should have announced a national appeal and the Government should have led the way in this appeal. We should also have appealed to our industrialists and to our traders to contribute to this very worthy cause. I often wonder if the Irish Red Cross Society have no funds at their disposal which they could send immediately to afflicted areas or must they always await an appeal to the country for funds? Another point about which I wonder is why we cannot arrange to air-lift supplies in view of this emergency. The Government should consider this point carefully.

In regard to the question of a cease-fire, which is the only way to solve this problem and prevent further starvation and deaths, the Minister for External Affairs should ensure that it becomes known to both sides in the struggle that the Irish Government will make their services available as mediators in the conflict. It is not sufficient for the Minister for External Affairs to say that he cannot do this. It should be done immediately. Ireland holds no brief in this struggle and is not like our neighbouring country which has vested interests. Ireland has emerged as a very important country from the point of view of helping in situations like this. Since the only personal interest we have is that of our Irish missionaries, who have done such tremendous work in this country, it must be realised that the Irish Government would be quite unselfish in offering itself as a mediator and I think the Minister for External Affairs should make it known immediately to both sides that he is prepared to offer himself as a mediator in an effort to solve the problem and prevent further starvation and misery.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

I should like to add my voice to that of the leader of my Party and to that of Deputy Tully in their very genuine expressions of support for this proposal. Those expressions are clear evidence of the unanimous desire of the people generally to assist financially and by every other means in their power in the relief of distress in the Biafra province of Nigeria.

This Vote is one of the most important, one of the most necessary and one of the most urgent coming before this House in recent years. The Minister is asking for approval of a very modest sum of £100,000. It is a small contribution by comparison with what is required to relieve the distress of these afflicted people. The country is torn by civil war. In addition to civil war, there is tribal warfare. We are very glad to make this gesture on behalf of the Irish people because of the very close ties between this country and Nigeria, ties manufactured over a very long number of years. Irish priests and nuns have devoted their lives to the spreading of Christianity in Nigeria, particularly in the province of Biafra.

Like the Minister and, I am sure, other Members of the Government and Deputy Esmonde, I, too, had the pleasure of meeting Bishop Whelan on his arrival here. Having been told at first-hand the conditions that exist in this war-torn land, it is difficult to credit that civilisation has progressed to the point at which millions are being spent in an effort to send a man to the moon. Side by side with that, the wheatfields are being burned in Saskatchewan and elsewhere in Canada; in the United States of America farmers are being paid not to produce food. Millions are starving in Biafra. People are dying at the rate of 300 per day because of lack of food. It has often puzzled me that there is always an element ready and willing to encourage the prolongation of war with all its dreadful consequences. We must speak out loudly — it is our bounden duty — about the appalling situation in Nigeria. Let us hope this modest £100,000 represents the first practical step by the Irish Government towards relieving the dreadful situation that obtains in Nigeria. Let us hope that the Irish Government will now through the United Nations, or by some other means, take steps to bring about a cease-fire in this war-torn country. Unless an end is brought to hostilities, all our efforts at relief will be in vain.

It is common knowledge in the United Nations and elsewhere that the Federal Government of Nigeria is being supplied with arms by Russia and others in order to keep this war going. None of us has any desire to interfere in the domestic and political affairs of any other nation; we have enough to do trying to look after our own. We have, however, an obligation as Christians and as a nation that has suffered, though possibly to a lesser extent than these unfortunate people, to do everything in our power to help to make peace. The whole position is quite horrifying. We shall have to do more than merely send £100,000 worth of food, clothing and medicine, the more so as we have no guarantee that what we send will go to those who need it most urgently.

The Government should instruct the Minister for External Affairs to solicit the support of the United Nations who, as has been said, have peace-keeping forces, so that steps will be taken to bring the civil war to an end. It is not possible for the various tribes within Nigeria to solve this problem themselves. This war has gone on for one and a half years and it likely to continue, with consequential suffering to humanity there. As Bishop Whelan rightly said in all his public utterances over the past ten days in this country, only a cease-fire will be really effective, although food and medical supplies will help to relieve the deplorable distress prevailing there at the moment. We can give a lead. We are capable of doing it and can do it by setting in motion the necessary machinery whereby an end to the war will at least be sought and there will be a cease-fire as a result of efforts by the United Nations or by whoever may be responsible for bringing all the parties together.

I hope and trust that the Government will follow up this contribution which is being voted by the House today. It is voted unanimously, with the approval of every Deputy. That is the result of our realisation of our responsibility to fellow Christians and to human beings. It is being done in response to the appeals by the leaders of Church, by the Pope himself and by all who believe in helping, in the spirit of Christianity, those in need.

A very serious effort should be made. The steps taken by the Government in the past have not been practical. Our Minister for External Affairs has been wanting in so far as serious action is concerned to bring world-wide attention to the deplorable condition that exists in the province of Nigeria. It would be the wish of the Irish people that he would be prepared to act as mediator or that the nation would act as mediator. Something should be done to bring about a cease-fire. Without the intervention of the Hand of God, it would appear to be an impossible task. Therefore, in addition to sending supplies, all of us should pray for Divine intervention and that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, wiser counsels will prevail and peace will be restored to Nigeria.

I do not believe there has ever been an Estimate introduced in this House to which I so readily subscribed my fullest support and approval. I trust that the amount of money involved will be wisely spent and will be the means of bringing comfort to those who are suffering from the disastrous effects of this civil war. It is a great pity that every civilised government in the world would not take a similar step. I hope that a leaf will be taken out of our book by the wealthy nations who can afford to contribute to this cause better than we can. It is the poor who always help the poor. We are a poor country but we are big in heart. We are big in the extension of Christianity. We are big in helping where our support is most needed. The Government have acted wisely. Perhaps, as the last speaker said, the sum involved can be described as very modest. Nevertheless, it goes with a big heart from all the Irish people. When the Government speak on this matter, they speak on behalf of all the people. We are a small country and a poor country. We give of our best. If the economy permitted, we would give more. If we were a much wealthier state, our contribution to this most worthy cause would be more substantial bearing in mind that many of our own citizens will benefit, people that our own priests and nuns have been living amongst and working with. Let us hope they will benefit.

I sincerely hope that practical steps will be taken to see that order is restored in Nigeria. It is most unfortunate that there should be civil war in Nigeria, a country that seemed to have such a great future. We can only hope and trust that wiser counsels will prevail and that, before further distress is caused, Ireland will give the lead in focussing world attention on this problem and the necessity for serious action for the restoration of peace.

Mr. Ryan

I do not want to add to the length of this debate because it would be a pity to spoil the unity which has been achieved by engaging in too much acrimonious discussion. Let me endorse all that has been said on all sides of the House of our obligation to give generously of our resources to the unfortunate people of Biafra. Our obligation to make this contribution is independent of whether or not any of us or our sons and daughters, kith or kin, have ever put a foot in Biafra to do good or bad works. This obligation lies on us as human beings, as creatures of God, to give of our resources to those in need of them. That is the simple truth of the obligation which lies on us and we should honourably and gladly discharge it.

It may well be that there are a few people amongst us who would begrudge our giving anything outside our country. This is a time when there is a clear obligation on us as public representatives to consider what are the issues involved and to make a decision. Irrespective of what the views of the electorate may be, this is an occasion when Members of Parliament are obliged to come down in favour of giving a contribution. It is, however, an encouragement to know that the decision we take in the case is supported by the overwhelming mass of our people and that it is only a few odd cranks who may begrudge the giving of this money and, indeed, these would be the very people who would be loudest in demands as to what other people should do unto us, if we were in the position of the Biafrans today. We do not have to consider their opinion seriously.

Having listened to the debate, I am conscious of the fact that this contribution of £100,000 in goods and in kind could be completely obliterated in one day's military conflict and, therefore, as we give this money, I consider that we have an equal obligation as a nation to make whatever efforts we can, either by way of diplomacy or by way of protest in this assembly, to see to it that the great nations involved in this conflict, and who have turned this local dispute into a national conflict, would withdraw from the Nigerian situation.

We must condemn the political whited sepulchres of Britain, the British Government, who day in and day out have given military help and other assistance to the Nigerian Federal Government to inflict cruelties upon the unfortunate people of Biafra. Whatever doubts the world may have had about the conflict in that sorry land must have been dispelled when within the last few days the Federal Government threatened to shoot down any plane on a mercy mission to Biafra. That pronouncement by the Federal Government must be condemned without qualification. Ample opportunity was available to them to supervise supplies going in by air or to have inspections carried out by people in whom they had trust to ensure that such planes did not carry arms. But to say clearly, without qualification and without apology to anybody, that they would shoot down any plane on a mercy mission condemns them before the tribunal of mankind now and forever after. No matter what may be at issue, to refuse to give food and medicine to suffering refugees is to commit a crime against humanity. Therefore, the Federal Government deserve properly to be condemned.

I share the views expressed from the Fine Gael benches today that the Government have been far too shy on the question of breaking the diplomatic ice. This is an international conflict in Nigeria. Russia wants Port Harcourt. That is why they are involved with the Nigerian Federal Government. They hope that by giving them political aid this port will be made available to them. On the other hand, Britain wants to keep their goodwill, so that every gun supplied by Russia must be matched by a gun from Britain. All this supply of arms is being poured into Nigeria to be used against the unfortunate, ill-treated people of Biafra.

It therefore shakes one's faith in the United Nations to see it unwilling to act, to see it reserved and impotent in that situation. If the United Nations had cause to act in the Congo, Cyprus and the Middle East, there is equal if not greater cause for them to act in an effective way to bring the war in Nigeria and Biafra to an end. Our Government are being far too shy in relation to this matter. This is an occasion when we must step out and clearly assert that the conscience of mankind is stricken by this conflict, that it condemns the great powers for supplying military aid to either side and that mankind through the United Nations must take action now to stop this unnecessary strife in this land.

I would like to get the views of the Minister and the Government on a suggestion made to me within the past week. As chairman of Dublin Health Authority, I was asked to make a donation from the Authority of drugs and medicines to the Biafran Relief Fund. I am advised, however, that a health authority has no power to make such donations from its own resources. Of course, the reason why it would not have statutory powers to do so is fairly clear. The suggestion was then made that there are in the stores of health authorities drugs and medicines which from time to time reach the date of expiration of their full potency as set out on the label. However, I am advised by qualified medical people and drug experts that there is a substantial margin of safety allowed so far as these dates are concerned and that in many cases the full potency remains for some months, if not a year or more, after the date on the label, although the colour or some other aspect of the drug may change.

One would not at all wish to furnish drugs which were in any way lacking in potency and which could only mislead people into a false situation. That would be dreadful altogether and might lead to greater pain and suffering. But if it be the case that these drugs and medicines have potency after the dates on which we in this country are allowed use them, perhaps we ought to make them available. At present health authorities get no monetary benefit when these drugs go out of date. It might be possible to make a collection of them and dispatch them to Biafra or wherever else they might be required in any future conflict or emergency situation.

I wish to endorse the support the Irish people are giving to this compelling request to assist the people of Biafra. I wish to endorse also the mounting public criticism of the Government for their failure to act on the diplomatic and political plane to bring about a cessation of hostilities in this very sad territory.

Mr. Hilliard

This is a subject one could become very emotional about. One could speak at length on the situation that exists in Nigeria, that existed there since the civil war started and even before that, but I do not propose to follow that line. I welcome the expressions of goodwill from spokesmen of the three main Parties in the House in giving their full approval to the provision of the money specified in this Estimate to purchase food and medicines in this country for relief of distress in Nigeria and, in particular, in the eastern region of that country. The food and medicines already assembled are now on a ship in Dublin Port and will shortly be on their way to the island of Fernando Po.

Deputy Esmonde criticised the idea of landing supplies on this island for transhipment by air to the eastern region. Appeals have been made to me and to the Government to change horses, so to speak, and to have the supplies we provide handled by the other organisation, Caritas Internationalis. Our practice up to now has been to give the money voted in this House to the Irish Red Cross and they, in turn, deal with the International Red Cross. I have no reason to doubt that the supplies the Irish Red Cross have already sent to the International Committee have landed in the eastern region. We know that the International Red Cross Committee are using the island of Fernando Po and flying in supplies to these stricken people. Caritas Internationalis is operating in the same way from another island. That is the only difference, in my opinion. I am quite satisfied — so far as it is humanly possible to be certain in a war situation in which the Federal Government has announced its intention to shoot down these planes — that whatever food is provided by this country will reach its destination and that it will be distributed to the people who need it most.

Let us have a clear picture of the situation. There are starving millions inside the steel ring in the heartland of Eastern Nigeria, or the bushland, as it is called, but there are also starving people outside the ring in the captured territory of the eastern region. Surely the House does not wish us to deny supplies to these people? I know they do not and I know that our people want to see these supplies going where they are needed. It is not unusual in large areas of Africa to have hunger, want and starvation as a result of natural causes. Indeed, it is a common thing, but this is something different; this is a disastrous situation in our view. There are millions of people herded together in this heartland and it is our business to see, as far as we possibly can, that they are supplied with food in the shortest possible time.

I shall not enter into the questions of the political or military situation in that country. I shall not even comment on the criticism levelled here at the Government because of their alleged inactivity in trying to arrange a cease-fire and failing to bring this problem more forcibly before the United Nations. That is not my function but I want to say in passing that it is no simple matter to arrange a cease-fire in any war situation, great or small.

As regards the role of the Red Cross Society in the matter of relief the position is that the Society is financed by the Government from money voted by this House, by means of the Emergency Relief Fund. Money is provided yearly to the extent of some £10,000 or £15,000 by the House on the understanding that the amount may be increased to any amount that the Government may decide. The Society has already a good record in giving aid to the people in eastern Nigeria. They sent some £5,000 in cash this year when they were asked for it. They have also sent supplies including medicines to the value of over £700. I wish to say thanks again to the people who have subscribed, the industrialists, traders and workers, trade unionists and farmers and all our people from every walk of life, the majority of whom made some contribution in response to appeals in the Press and elsewhere. I hope they will continue to subscribe as far as they possibly can. I think further supplies will need to be sent if we are to save the lives of many of the people involved.

I made a mistake in my introductory remarks in saying that the Irish Hierarchy contributed £100,000 to the Red Cross. The figure should have read £10,000 but it is a large amount for the Hierarchy to have subscribed. The Government's contribution compares favourably in amount with the contributions made by other countries. Coming from a country with limited resources it is comparatively large and taken in conjunction with the amount coming from private sources the contribution is sizeable. But what we consider to be large amounts, in this context are not sufficient to solve the problem. I want to emphasise that so that people outside the House who want to make subscriptions will understand that every penny they can subscribe is needed.

I am fully convinced that the International Red Cross Committee are capable of looking after the mechanics of getting the supplies to the people who most need them. It is not true that Red Cross supplies and supplies going in through Fernando Po are subject to inspection by the Nigerian Government. It is true that the Nigerian Government offered to admit supplies by a different route subject to inspection. The International Red Cross are ferrying in supplies from Fernando Po and Caritas Internationalis are doing the same thing but from a different island. I do not see any necessity to divert any of our supplies to the latter organisation. The International Red Cross have served us well in the past and I see no reason to change our method of providing relief. We are in touch with them and know what is happening.

I thought I should be able to get out of this debate without any reference to my own family. I did not wish to have that personal connection with this part of Africa introduced into the debate. Be that as it may, I wish to say on my own behalf and on behalf of the Government that we sincerely hope, as I am sure does every Deputy in the House and every person in the country, that this conflict will come to an end soon thus facilitating the delivery of food and medicines to the unfortunate people who are facing starvation.

Question put and agreed to.