I call on Mr. Colm Burke, MEP, to make a short presentation on Chad.
Situation in Chad: Discussion with Irish MEPs.
Mr. Colm Burke, MEP
It is quite late, Chairman.
What do you wish to do?
Mr. Colm Burke, MEP
I have given a copy of the document to the committee. I am not sure if the technicalities regarding the DVD we have made have been sorted. It is a summary of the meetings we attended and is approximately 15 minutes in length. It is late now and I am not sure what you wish to do, Chairman.
I am easy but other members have to leave. If we may have a copy of the DVD we will run it at our next meeting.
Mr. Colm Burke, MEP
Fine. It is basically a summary. I went to Chad on my own initiative, not under any EU initiative. The report I have given is a summary of the total of 28 meetings I had with various NGOs and the UN World Food Programme. One issue needs to be highlighted concerning the food programme for Chad. The request for 2008 is for $290 million in respect of the food programme for various operations in Chad. To date only $51 million has been made available and there is a major concern about the whole project. The problem is that we need to have all the food in place by the end of June because after that the rainy season lasts for four to five months. It is a major concern at the moment, which is why I prepared the report for the European Parliament. I gave it to the foreign affairs committee and there was a full debate on the report in Parliament last Thursday. We recorded all the meetings we attended in order to have a clear record of the issues. We condensed approximately 12 hours of television footage down to 15 minutes. It summarises all the issues involved in Chad, including political ones, the refugee camps, IDP sites, and rebel groups. That is basically what the DVD covers. I will leave it with the committee together with a detailed report of the visit to Chad. If the committee wants me to answer any questions at a later date I will have no difficulty in attending the committee again.
We have circulated Mr. Burke's report to members of the committee.
I commend Mr. Burke on his work. I have never met him before but I have read through the report which is extremely helpful and valuable. It is a good way to discharge his responsibilities as an MEP. I am sorry I cannot stay to watch the DVD but I will get an opportunity to do so.
We will do it.
I also compliment Mr. Burke, whom I have already met, on his initiative and the work he has undertaken. He has given us all a greater understanding of the complexities of the situation in Chad. Ireland has undertaken a serious responsibility with the mission we have sent there. Taking into account that the World Food Programme is short €78 million of what is required to feed the starving people in the world, this is a very pertinent report. Copies of the report and the DVD should be sent to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Minister for Defence. As a former Minister of State with responsibility for the World Food Programme, I think it is important that the report should be brought to the attention of the aforementioned Ministers. I thank Mr. Burke again for the work he has done.
Is it agreed that we refer the report as suggested? Agreed. We will circulate it and will have a discussion on it. If needs be we will call Mr. Burke back again. That concludes the first part of the meeting.