I strongly support this motion and I regret that I cannot agree with the sentiments expressed by the previous speaker. I believe that this joint committee is necessary at this time in this materialistic age. If we are to make any contribution to, or take any stand on the problems that beset, the Third World and the developing countries then at least it must surely be possible to have a vehicle, an organisation, a committee, a forum, call it what you like, in which our own legislators, the two Houses of the Oireachtas will have the opportunity, first hand, of becoming aware of the problems and perhaps meeting the representatives of the people involved and of seeing more closely the gigantic problem that faces anybody who is interested in paying more than lip service to the Third World, to the North-South dialogue, or whatever we want to call it.
I believe that the joint committee as proposed will play a very important role in creating here in the Oireachtas, and through the Oireachtas in the people of Ireland, an awareness of our Christian responsibilities, of our economic responsibilities to bring about a greater shareout of the world's wealth. During the years I had the honour of serving with the present Minister for Defence on the Joint Committee of the European Parliament, the Assembly of the ACP, we had the opportunity of meeting and having discussions with the representatives of some 52 developing countries in Africa and South America. It is only through those contacts that we can appreciate the problem that is there.
I also believe that the public should have an opportunity of seeing and appreciating the tremendous amount of work, progress and contribution made through our Department of Foreign Affairs, through the non-governmental agencies and through the church and other voluntary organisations that have been working quietly and consistently over many decades. When one reads the Brandt Report, on which we had a very interesting debate here a few months ago, one appreciates the problem that exists. I have been interested in this particular aspect of development for a considerable time and during the lifetime of the second last Seanad we succeeded in having an ad hoc committee on which a number of Senators from both sides of the House got together unofficially and had many discussions with members of the diplomatic service accredited to Dublin. Many interested persons who were passing through Dublin came to speak with us at lunchtime or when we could fit them in.
There is a problem here because there is a gap to be filled. I feel very proud of the many highly trained young people who give very generously of their time and who go out and work in these countries with non-governmental services or through the development agencies. The unfortunate thing is that there is no appreciation of their efforts. If a teacher gives two years' service in developing countries it is not recorded or taken into account when the teacher is applying for a job on his or her return. We need to create an awareness of this. There must be recognition of people who are so generous with their lives and their time and who make such a contribution. I know there are some agencies set up to assist these people but, nevertheless, it is not unusual to find that doctors, teachers and nurses, who have done two or three years in helping with the development of some of those nations, can be months before they finally settle back into a job when they return to our country. There is a great deal of work to be done by this joint committee. They should be able to underline the tremendous contribution that the State makes, even though it has not yet reached the United Nations target for our direct contribution. Nevertheless, it is important that this work should be highlighted, that there should be pressure on the Houses of the Oireachtas and on the Minister for Finance of the day to ensure that our national contribution should be kept abreast of the target and that we, as a supposedly Christian country, should be able to give almost a lead in the kind of work that needs to be done if there is to be any kind of fair play in the world, and if the hope and trust of those people in the developing nations are to be maintained. I welcome the setting up of this committee. I wish its members well and I hope they will be able to underline the tremendous work that is at present being and has been carried on, especially by the Department of Foreign Affairs.