Seanad Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 May 2014

Abduction of Nigerian Children: Motion

Senator Michael Mullins

I move:

That Seanad Éireann calls on the Government to offer all available assistance and support to the Nigerian Government in its attempts to secure the immediate release of the children abducted in recent weeks by Boko Haram, and utterly condemns this despicable crime against humanity.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello, and thank him for taking the time to debate this motion. As we all know, more than 230 girls were abducted from a boarding school in the northern Nigerian town of Chibok by the militant Islamic group Boko Haram on 14 April 2014. An estimated 200 heavily armed militants arrived at night in 20 vehicles to steal supplies and kidnap the students. In the local Hausa language, Boko Haram means "Western education is evil" or "Western education is forbidden," so the abductions indicate a hatred for Western education. The group promotes the puritanical Islamic view that a woman's place is in the home.

Some very disturbing information has emerged in respect of these abductions. Possibly up to 90% of those abducted were Christians. The governor of Borno state failed to honour a commitment to ensure the security of the girls during examinations in the school. There was no adult in the school grounds watching over 230 girls apart from one security man. There was no electricity generator operating on the campus. Children were alone in their dormitories when they were carried away by their captors. The soldiers who were guarding the school were redeployed a few hours before Boko Haram launched its attack. It has also emerged that the kidnapped girls are being raped by their captors and are being forced to convert to Islam.

It is clear that this terrorist organisation is particularly sinister and barbaric and has close links to the Taliban, Islamic Jihad, Hamas and al-Qaeda. The leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, is a ruthless psychopath who has played a key part in taking the organisation down the road of all-out war on the rest of Nigeria. His organisation is reputed to have murdered up to 5,000 people in the past five years. More moderate commanders who have argued with him have been killed, and he believes it is okay to kill anyone who disagrees with him.

We can only imagine the anguish and worry experienced by the parents of these schoolgirls whose only crime was to try to have their children educated. The international response to the kidnapping was slow and disappointing but, thankfully, has gained momentum in recent days. It is very much to be welcomed that the United Kingdom, the United States and France have sent specialist teams and equipment to help Nigeria's military in the search for the missing girls.

Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury and other religious leaders throughout the world have pledged their support and prayers for the safe return of the girls. We all hope that recent indications that the girls are alive are accurate but obviously the demands being made by the terrorists for the release of prisoners will be a particularly difficult issue for the Nigerian Government. All members of this House want the Government to do everything possible as a matter of urgency to help reunite these schoolgirls with their distraught parents.

We hope, given our involvement with the country through our missionaries and Irish Aid that we would have high credibility within Nigeria. I urge the Minister of State to encourage our EU partners to engage proactively in assisting the Nigerian Government in the search. I would be very interested to hear from the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello, as to what actions the Government proposes to take to assist in the search. These abductions are a major human rights violation that cannot be ignored by the international community. We must play our part in obtaining justice for these families. The Government will have the support of every Member of this House in whatever actions it decides to take.

Senator Ivana Bacik

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello, and thank him for taking this important debate. I second the motion, which has been put forward with cross-party support. I am really glad we have been able to achieve that support as it shows the strength of feeling across Ireland on this horrible abduction.

As Senator Michael Mullins has said the motion deals with the abduction of more than 230, possibly 270, schoolgirls who were taken from their school in the northern Nigerian state of Borno in mid-April by a group calling itself Boko Haram. We have learned a good deal about this brutal terrorist organisation in recent weeks. There was an excellent article by Elizabeth Donnelly in The Irish Times on Saturday which gave a really good insight into the context for the existence of this Nigerian born organisation, which was founded around 2002 and has been particularly violent since 2009. It has been responsible for some 5,000 killings since then. Boko Haram is opposed to western education, westernisation, secularism and corruption. It is particularly against girls receiving education and in the broader context this raises the discrimination against and oppression of young women and girls across much of the impoverished part of Nigeria in particular. There has been very little information, as Ms Donnelly writes, about the real nature of Boko Haram. She discusses the structure of the organisation, which is very diffuse, that some of its leaders have been killed and that it has become more and more violent as the security forces have sought to address it. The depressing scenario that Ms Donnelly paints is that it is very hard to see how to defeat this faction. She states that the international community is approaching the crisis with caution.

There has been criticism of the slowness of the response internationally to this appalling act, but as she states, making this into an international fight might make the group take on a more international dimension and deepen the crisis. There is a requirement that there would be some action from the international community. It is how this is done that is the question. The United States, as we know, sent a small team of hostage negotiators to Nigeria. The United Kingdom has also sent a small team and President Hollande in France has proposed a summit to try to address the difficulty. If one reads a little more about the context for this, one finds conflicting information as to whether the Nigerian armed forces are capable of finding the girls, rescuing them and tackling the group. There is a good deal of conflicting information.

Nigeria, unquestionably, has one of the strongest armies on the Continent of Africa. The country is reputed to spend about $6 billion on its military and the United States gives a substantial amount of funding in aid to the Nigerian military every year. I would be interested in learning the Minister of State's view on this. It seems this is a particularly difficult challenge for the military in Nigeria. There has been a great deal of criticism of the ineffective response of the military and of the Nigerian Government. The Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan has vowed to rescue the girls, but the parents of the victims for whom we feel immense sympathy have despaired of the capacity of the government to rescue them. We saw reports of the terrible video that Boko Haram produced, showing some of the girls. It is as Senator Michael Mullins said, a relief that they are alive, but it is unthinkable what has been happening to them.

The question that this motion seeks to address is what we in Ireland can do to help the Nigerian Government in its attempt to secure the immediate release of the children. I know the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has given his strong support to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon and the EU High Representative, Ms Catherine Ashton, who have demanded that those responsible will be brought to justice. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade supports the European Union in its work to assist the Nigerian authorities. The Irish Embassy in Abuja is also maintaining contact with the Nigerian authorities. As Senator Mullins has said, we have very strong links directly from Ireland to Nigeria. I would like to hear the Minister of State outline how we may best engage with the Nigerian authorities to offer support to them and how best we can support an EU or international initiative to bring those responsible for this crime to justice but most importantly to rescue the girls. I am conscious of the bigger picture, there are many other victims of Boko Haram. They have terrorised many people in the area. This heinous crime has galvanised the international community and has drawn our attention to the outgoing circumstances, in which the group is terrorising the Christian population, rural villagers and children. They killed a group of schoolboys earlier. A significant number of atrocities have been committed by Boko Haram and it is time that stronger action was taken. The difficulty is how best to deal with them.

Senator Jim Walsh

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello. In fact, probably a year ago I tabled a motion on Boko Haram, requesting action to be taken by the Government and at EU level. It has also been discussed at the Joint Committee of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the past year to 18 months.

Boko Haram is one of the most murderous terrorist groups in the world. Their chilling acts of terror have been referred to by my colleagues opposite. On the night of 16 April in north-east Nigeria, dozens of armed Boko Haram terrorists captured 230 girls sleeping in their dormitories. A month has passed and, as has been said by Senator Ivana Bacik, only now has the media come to focus on it. That is a sad reflection on the international media and of course on the United Nations, who have been exceptionally slow to react to this situation.

Boko Haram has complete disdain for the education model which has been left by the British and for western education. The translation of the group's name is "Western education is sinful". As a consequence Boko Haram has conducted these attacks.

The group emerged from the 9/11 attack in the United States, under the leadership of the then 30 year old Mohammed Yusuf, who founded the group that later became Boko Haram. It is a Taliban inspired model of teaching that they are promoting in favour of so-called quranic sciences. They lure the unemployed, the impoverished and students who had left government universities to their side. They preach the necessity of Sharia law. In fact since the death, or possible murder of Mohammed Yusuf in 2009, the group has been further radicalised. Yusuf who was in custody was reportedly handcuffed at the time he was killed, and that has led to a reaction. The Nigerian President has been struggling with the problem ineffectively. He is expressing optimism but in fact the parents of the victims do not accept that. Some of them have gone into the forest to see if they can find their children only to turn back because of the threat to their own lives.

I am happy to support the motion, but I am afraid it is inadequate as we are focusing only on these abductions. I ask the Members opposite to consider the following addition to the motion - "and their ongoing targeted campaign of killing Christians in Nigeria and that we call upon the international community, including the United Nations to provide whatever assistance is necessary to combat this terrorist organisation". I do so because Boko Haram has promised to annihilate all western culture.

The killings have reflected a sectarian element. In May 2011 two bombs killed 15 people; in August 2011 a suicide bomber killed 21; in January 2012, 185 Christians were killed just after Christmas in a church in which they were praying; in July 2013, 29 students were burned alive in their school; in September last year 40 young children were murdered; and in February this year 59 more students were killed. It would be remiss of us not to condemn these events in the same way as we condemn the others. Action has to be taken to eliminate Boko Haram and bring to an end its treacherous murderous campaign. Senator Ivana Bacik mentioned that up to 5,000 people had been killed and in the first four months of this year alone Amnesty International has stated 1,500 people died. This is a group which is promoting a genocidal campaign in Nigeria and it needs to be confronted by the international community, obviously in agreement with the Nigerian Government. It should be eliminated. While I am not putting this forward as an amendment, if the House could accept it as a consensus, it would be good because we would actually condemn all of the brutal activities of Boko Haram, rather than perhaps be seen to focus on one aspect.

Senator Jillian van Turnhout

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello. As he knows, I raised this issue with him last week and also raised it on the Order of Business. Therefore, I very much welcome this all-party motion on what can only be described as an issue of the utmost concern to the international community. Since others have covered the fine details and because the time allotted is so short I will use my time to address surrounding issues.

I note and support the call to action made by Walk Free, an online movement fighting to end modern slavery, which is urging the Nigerian Government to, first, act immediately on intelligence received by credible local sources; second, to work with neighbouring countries such as Cameroon which is regarded as a stronghold for the Boko Haram group and Chad, as well as other nations offering assistance to mount an effective search for the girls; and, third, to improve the protection of schools in north-eastern Nigeria in order that children can receive an education without the risk of kidnapping, forced marriage or other abuses. Deplorably, in this instance, the attack on the girls in a school setting is no coincidence, given Boko Haram's stated opposition to perceived "western education".

I commend the work of the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack to establish better protections for schools and universities from military use, including the Draft Lucens Guidelines to Protect Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict. Last November I met Human Rights Watch which, with Education Above All, the global initiative protecting the right of children and youth to quality education, was in contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade when it visited Ireland to seek our support in solidifying the guidelines. I urge the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, and the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello, to take a leadership role on the issue. While the Department has yet to respond to the request for support, I understand 23 states and entities, including many fellow EU member states, the European Parliament and the International Committee of the Red Cross, have made statements in support of the guidelines process. Perhaps this is something we could actively do.

Gender based violence, sadly, intensifies during armed and violent conflicts. While Boko Haram's atrocities are not limited to acts of violence against girls - for example, in February this year the group murdered 59 boys in their boarding school - this incident does highlight the distinct vulnerability of women and girls to violence in times of conflict. I recall the motion tabled by Senator David Norris on sexual violence in conflict which was debated in the House last November and which I seconded. I spoke about sexual violence and rape in armed conflict, particularly targeted against women and girls, as a premeditated weapon of war and from which virtually no conflict was immune.

Female genital mutilation is another horrendous example of gender based violence perpetrated predominantly against the girl child. The introduction of the Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 2012 contributes to fulfilling the first goal of Ireland's national plan of action "to prevent the practice of FGM in Ireland". I was privileged to support Senator Ivana Bacik during its passage into law. I am also delighted that the second goal of the plan, "to provide high quality, appropriate health care and support for women and girls who have undergone FGM", has now been delivered through the opening of Ireland's first FGM clinic in the Irish Family Planning Association's clinic on Cathal Brugha Street which I understand will be officially opened to the public tomorrow.

Another horrifying element facing the abducted girls in Nigeria is the threat of forced marriage. This constitutes an egregious violation of girls' fundamental human rights, including their sexual and reproductive health rights. There are potentially fatal consequences for the girls whose immature bodies are not ready for child bearing. As a side note, in regard to Irish legislation, while we have the age of marriage at 18 years, we do allow exemptions for special reasons. I wonder if it is time for Ireland to set an international example by stating 18 years is the age of marriage and that there should be no exemptions in reducing it. As it stands, we are saying it cannot be done for cultural reasons elsewhere, but that we might perhaps consider exemptions for our own reasons. It is a question I throw out and which I would like to debate.

Today marks the launch of the global rights campaign "I Decide" in Ireland. This campaign was launched by the IFPA and calls on world leaders to support women's and girls' basic sexual and reproductive rights. I very much support the work it is trying to do.

The motion cannot be debated in a vacuum or such limited time. I could say so much more about so many issues. It throws up a plethora of issues, ranging from transparency and good governance to maternal health, mortality and gender based violence, all of which are interlinked and warrant further debate. I call on the House to hold a specific debate on violence against women and gender based violence. It would be worthwhile for us to have more time to debate this issue and also talk about how Ireland can be a role model and not just look at other countries. Obviously, we need to play a role on the international stage, but, equally, we need to take responsibility, set an example and ensure we have supports available for women in Ireland.

Senator Sean D. Barrett

I join in the sentiments expressed in the motion. It is very sad that we must hear about these despicable events, in particular the spiriting away of 230 girls from their boarding school and the attacks on the education of women, boarding schools and western education, as it is perceived. One hopes better temperaments will prevail and that it will be seen that education is not a threat to girls or boys in their schools. We all have a duty, in every society, to guard young people against such attacks. It is galling to hear that soldiers left some time before the school was raided.

One has to say President Goodluck Jonathan does not seem like the most convincing person in wanting to tackle this problem, although perhaps he was alerted to it too late. Ireland has strong links with Nigeria and perhaps one of the things we might have to say to him is that this problem should have been addressed far more urgently and thoroughly.

The Islamic tradition was mentioned. It is just one week since members of the Islamic tradition were with us at Arbour Hill, joining in the prayers and celebrations. Perhaps these contacts might also be availed of. This incident presents an unfair and unflattering view of the Islamic tradition and perhaps Islamic leaders in Ireland might assist the Minister of State in that regard. Demonising people is not going to help us in dealing with the issue.

It is a very sad occasion and our sympathy goes to the parents, brothers and sisters of the young girls who were taken away. We all wish to see them restored to their families and schools. It is easy to give in to despair that things like this should happen.

The motion calls for us to give every assistance to the Nigerian Government in order that this problem can be tackled quickly and the young girls can be restored to their families. We had a great deal of outside help with our peace process. We still get help. Whatever expertise the Minister of State has in his Department - he visits Africa frequently - should be used to see this dreadful crisis is resolved.

Senator Cáit Keane

This is an important debate. As the time is limited and Senator Jillian van Turnhout raised so many issues-----

Acting Chairman (Senator Susan O'Keeffe)

I am sorry to interrupt, but is the Senator sharing her time?

Senator Cáit Keane

Yes, with Senator Hildegarde Naughton. It will be two and a half minutes each.

Acting Chairman (Senator Susan O'Keeffe)

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Senator Cáit Keane

There is much that we could discuss, but it would be better to keep today focused on what was raised on the Order of Business, namely, the children's kidnapping and how to get them released as speedily as possible. "Boko Haram" means "Western education is forbidden". The girls were in school, which is every girl's right even if Boko Haram disagrees. Senator Jim Walsh went into the detail, so I will not repeat it, but we will not fix today all that is wrong with education in Nigeria and Boko Haram's perception of same. Rather, this motion tries to ensure a speedy release of the 300 abducted girls. Some 53 escaped. They were the lucky ones. It is difficult for the remaining parents. The video released last night showed some of the children. I heard on radio this morning that one of the mothers had recognised her daughter in that video. How truthful is the video about all of them still being alive? I hope they are.

The Boko Haram leader has stated that the children will be held imprisoned until the militants are free. It is a trade. Initially, the interior Minister stated that it would be absurd even to negotiate or to do a deal with a terrorist group. If I were a parent in such a situation, I would climb up the side of a mountain and do any deal possible to get my children released. Later, I heard on radio that the interior Minister had stated that everything was on the table. It is important that everything be on the table before anything is ruled out. If this situation is let go, it will be the thin end of the wedge. As Senator Walsh stated, none of this started yesterday. Rather, it started way back.

All modern technology must be used. We are known as a country with expertise and we have Google, Facebook and every other IT company. The GPS system, satellites and everything else must be used to ensure the children are found. The United States and other countries have sent technical experts. We cannot even imagine competing with that. However, the violent campaign must be condemned and we must ensure that every country, no matter how small, does everything it can.

Senator Hildegarde Naughton

I join colleagues in strongly supporting this motion. The leader of Boko Haram announced more than a year ago that he intended to kidnap girls into slavery or forced marriage as part of his plan for forced radical Islam. No attention was paid by either the Nigerian Government or the wider international community. Human Rights Watch estimated that 25 young girls had already been kidnapped this year, but it took the kidnapping of 276 young girls and enormous international pressure for the Nigerian Government to lift a finger. We might criticise this, but the fact is that most of northern Nigeria is controlled by Boko Haram, which uses religion as a cover to commit acts of terror. Its members are terrorists, plain and simple, and it is clear that the Nigerian Government does not control vast swathes of its country and needs international assistance.

Although I stated last week that Boko Haram was targeting young girls and their forced marriage as a means to control and subjugate them, I should clarify that it has no respect for young boys either. It murders them and uses boys as young as 12 years old as child soldiers. It has no respect for life whatsoever. An educated female population is a challenge to these people, so they fear it. Restricting or eliminating the right of young girls to an education is an attack on the women of tomorrow. It makes their poverty all the more likely and reduces the population to ignorance, with a greater threat of subjugation.

Boko Haram's version of Islam is not supported by the world's Muslims. The World Health Organization's Amman declaration of 1996 cited with strong authority Islamic laws and traditions that supported the right to education for girls and boys as well as the rights to earn a living and participate in public life. Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager shot by the Taliban for promoting education for girls, called on world leaders to provide free, compulsory schooling for every child. She called for a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism. She stated:

Let us pick up our books and our pens. They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution.

We would do well to remember her words.

Senator John Crown

I did not realise I would be called next. Would it be out of order to ask for another Senator to be taken first? I am collecting my thoughts. Do we have time?

Acting Chairman (Senator Susan O'Keeffe)

That is fine.

Senator Kathryn Reilly

I thank Senator John Crown and welcome the Minister of State. I am happy that this motion is being discussed. As many others have stated, it is only one of a broad range of issues that could be discussed for more time than we have today. That there is cross-party support shows that we all condemn the actions of Boko Haram and want the girls released without harm immediately.

Boko Haram's latest attacks on schools, particularly the recent kidnapping of more than 200 girls in north-east Nigeria, are sickening and have been rightly condemned by people across the world. The kidnapping has sparked outrage and, for the first time, people are taking notice of the dreadful war in Nigeria and its effect on civilians. According to the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, the war has cost 4,000 lives and caused 500,000 people to flee their homes. The kidnapping not only highlights the fight against radical Islamists in the region, but also the right to education, especially for girls, a point that has been raised numerous times in this debate.

The abductees are innocent schoolgirls trying to get an education, in itself a human right. In 2000, all UN member states adopted the millennium development goals and pledged to reach them by 2015. The second goal was universal access to primary school education and the third was the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women. Although major progress has been achieved in school enrolment levels, poverty and gender are key factors keeping children out of school. Children and adolescents from the poorest households are three times more likely to be out of school than those from the richest households. In even the richest households, girls are more likely to be out of school than boys. Globally, 123 million youths aged between 15 and 24 lack basic reading and writing skills. Some 61% of them are young women.

We need to work together to create a world in which all children, regardless of gender, socio-economic background and circumstance, have access to free, compulsory and quality education. For this reason, it is important that we are united in our condemnation of the kidnapping and that we send a strong signal to all girls of our support for their right to receive a quality education in a safe and secure environment.

Malala Yousafzai - as I cannot really pronounce her name, I apologise for the mispronunciation - was 15 years old when she was shot in the head by the Taliban for advocating for greater and more secure female access to education. Nowhere in the world should it be an act of courage or bravery for a child to attend school. Education is a basic human right and it should shape every child's daily routine regardless of location.

We must ask ourselves why so little media attention was given to this horrific story, especially at the beginning, and why many of the incidents of recent years chronicled in this debate are only being heard of now. For the past few months, news coverage has been dominated by the hunts for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight and survivors of the South Korean ferry accident. This is understandable and I do not condemn it, but why has there not been equal media coverage of the search for the missing girls or of what has generally been happening in Nigeria? Questions must be asked as to why equal priority in air time has not been given globally. Initially, it was mainly feminist, human rights and education activists who were at the forefront of drawing attention to this story. In the modern age of an oversaturation of media-related, show business celebrities, it is time to ask ourselves why there has been such a reluctance to report on these events and what kind of responsibility the global media has for reporting on human atrocities like this one.

More attention should be given to the search as a matter of priority. I hope part of any effort the Government makes will be to ensure there is sufficient attention and that it is at the forefront of people's minds.

Senator Mary Moran

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello. I support fully the cross-party motion before the House and seek to impress on the Minister of State the importance of assisting in the matter as much as possible.

It is heartening to see the widespread condemnation of this terrorist act and the involvement of the international community in pressuring and assisting the Nigerian Government to secure the release of the children. I would prefer not to lend further recognition to this terrorist organisation by using its name. It has received the notoriety it seeks already. The group purported to be responsible for the crime opposes so-called Western education and is vehemently opposed to the education of women and girls. Estimates vary as to the number of young girls who have been abducted. The figure hovers between 250 and 270, with approximately 230 girls still being held captive.

These young people were abducted from their boarding school in the middle of the night on 14 April 2014, apparently on two grounds: first, being female; and, second, attending school. The importance of all children receiving this opportunity is well established internationally. Many international surveys, reports and institutions recognise that female education and women contributing to the economy is important if countries are to grow sustainably. A large section of Nigeria's population of 168.8 million are under the age of 18. This generation are actively being harassed and targeted by this terrorist organisation for attending school. The education of this young generation, specifically these young women, is important to push forward gender equality in Nigeria. Education or its denial has often been used throughout history as a tool to oppress women and other sections of society. The tool is still being used. By standing strong as a Seanad and a nation with our international partners, we can demand change and show our support not only for these young girls but for all young people who are denied equal opportunities and rights.

Currently, more than 200 girls are being held captive. It now appears that their captors will use them as a means of leverage with the Nigerian Government for an exchange of prisoners. This heart-breaking use of children has awoken the larger international community to the realities that face women, girls and the Nigerian nation as a whole on a daily basis. I welcome the fact that the Nigerian Government has accepted assistance from the United States of America, Britain, China, France and Israel in the search. I am greatly disappointed in the immediate response to the issue but welcome that action is finally being taken. That has resulted from the international outrage expressed over the last number of weeks.

By adding our voices here today, we join a wider international movement that condemns not only terrorism but inequality. We will be sending a message to the young people of Nigeria that we support them and their right to access education. Most importantly, we will be making the statement that the young girls still being held captive are important and are not forgotten. The international voice I spoke about earlier has already succeeded in sparking action on the matter and raising awareness. I hope sincerely for the safe return of each and every girl to her family and loved ones as soon as possible.

Senator John Crown

As a parent with three children, including two daughters, I cannot but feel on a very human level the desperate tragedy playing out here and the uncertainty of the families of 200 children who do not know what conditions their children are being kept in, what depravities they may be subjected to, what their ultimate fate will be and whether they will be reunited with their families. On that human level, I express my extreme sorrow at this awful tragedy.

Boko Haram is too easy a target for us. It is a most absurd caricature and an extreme in the worldwide and history-long trend of mixing religion and politics. Boko Haram's ultimate aim is theocracy. It wants to establish a regime in Nigeria which will be run not by civil or secular law but by religious Sharia law. It has many good role models in that. Throughout the world, there are many existing theocracies. While it is absolutely correct for us to be utterly specific in our condemnation of this barbaric, terroristic, inhumane and murderous group of sectarian bigots, it also behoves us to have a little look into our own national soul and the soul of our western culture and to remember throughout the big play of history the notion of sectarian atrocity. That is what this is, as well as being a gender atrocity. Boko Haram have not been too gentle in the handling of male Christian children in the past either. We must survey what happens when we allow religious beliefs, no matter how sincerely held, to become an influence in public and civil policy.

Our hearts go out to these families and children. We offer our practical assistance if possible. I do not know what we can offer if they have the FBI, the CIA, the US military and the United Nations. The least we can do is to extend our sympathy and love to the families and any assistance which can be made available. We should be very forthright in our condemnation of the group and the goal for which it stands.

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Joe Costello)

I thank the Cathaoirleach and Members. I welcome the opportunity of speaking to the House today about the ongoing disturbing situation in Nigeria. I note the cross-party motion on the abduction of the schoolgirls in Nigeria and the quality and quantity of the contributions, which indicate clearly the deep interest among all Senators in this despicable activity.

I reiterate that the Government condemns in the strongest terms the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Borno state on 14 April 2014. Such acts of violence against schoolchildren are unacceptable. Ireland is a strong supporter of the rights of women and girls, particularly the right of girls to education. This is reflected in the Government's international development policy "One World, One Future" and Irish Aid's projects across Africa. The events in Nigeria have focused world attention on what is an intolerable situation.

Ireland supports fully the demands of the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, and the High Representative of the European Union, Catherine Ashton, that the schoolgirls be released and those responsible brought to justice. My colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, stated this explicitly in his statements on 16 April and 7 May when he condemned these violent activities against all Nigerians, particularly children. The offers of support to the Nigerian authorities by a number of our EU partners and the United States of America in helping to find the missing schoolgirls are welcome. The Nigerian authorities need support in their efforts to secure the safe release of the schoolgirls. We have urged the Nigerian Government to ensure it takes all appropriate steps to protect citizens and return the girls to their families and education.

At the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels yesterday, Ministers agreed Council conclusions addressing European Union concerns about the recent terrorist attacks in northern Nigeria and the suffering caused to the population. The Council strongly condemned the abduction of the schoolgirls and called for their immediate and unconditional release. The European Union underlined its readiness to support the Nigerian authorities in their efforts to defeat terrorism in all its forms in full respect of human rights.

Ireland has been active in a number of ways in its response to the abductions. Our embassy in Abuja is working closely with our European Union partners and others on the ground to maintain contact with the Nigerian authorities and support them in their efforts to locate and free the missing schoolgirls.

Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have also been in contact with the Nigerian Embassy in Dublin to express concern at the ongoing situation and to request regular updates regarding the actions taken by the Nigerian authorities to recover the abducted schoolgirls.

At the most recent session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last March I highlighted recent attacks by Boko Haram during discussions with the UN Special Representatives for Violence against Children and Children and Armed Conflict. Our objective was to draw attention to the ongoing trend of attacks on education around the world and to highlight the importance of ensuring that the right of children to education is upheld during and after conflict.

From an EU perspective, the European Union is already actively supporting the Nigerian authorities in strengthening their capacity to provide security and combat terrorism. A European Union support programme to strengthen the investigation and prosecution of terrorist suspects will begin later this month. It will include EU technical assistance to counter violent extremism and radicalisation. I mention this EU support because it is important for us to remember that the security situation in Nigeria is complex and involves a highly diverse range of actors, including Boko Haram. The group's attacks are not limited to the abduction of these schoolgirls. For example, it is also responsible for the recent bombing of a bus terminal in the Nyanya area on the outskirts of Abuja.

Perhaps one of the most sinister elements of these abductions, and of Boko Haram, is the fact that the group's actions are based on an opposition to education, especially for girls. As I have mentioned, Ireland has been a consistent supporter of the rights of girls to education. That objective is reflected in Irish Aid programmes to assist girls and women to access education across the developing world, especially in Africa. It is clear to us in Government, and to the global community, that the Nigerian authorities have a clear moral obligation to do everything in their power to secure the safe release of these schoolgirls, and to seek to deal with the wider issues of providing security for its citizens and combating terrorism.

I have been to Nigeria twice in the past two years and have discussed its security situation with a wide range of stakeholders. Last year, during Ireland's Presidency of the European Union, I represented the European Union at the EU-Nigeria Ministerial Dialogue in Brussels in May 2013, on behalf of the European External Action Service and Catherine Ashton, during which the security and political challenges facing Nigeria were discussed in detail with the Nigerian Minister for Foreign Affairs. That happened just after the declaration of a state of emergency and internment in the three Nigerian states. At the time I advised that there was a need to tackle the root causes, and that as well as the military response, that we should look at the elimination of poverty, corruption and religious intolerance. We had a very long discussion on these issues with the Nigerian delegation that was led by the Nigerian Foreign Minister because the issues had come to the fore at that particular time.

I also maintain regular contacts with Nigerian citizens in Ireland, many of whom have expressed their outrage at this atrocious crime. I can assure Senators that until the missing girls are freed and returned safely to their families, and to education, the Irish Embassy in Abuja, in co-operation with the European Union and other key partners in Nigeria, will maintain pressure on the Nigerian authorities. I have asked officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to keep in close contact with the Embassy of Nigeria in Dublin ino rder that the concerns of the Irish people are known and we can have full information on the efforts of the Nigerian authorities to find the abducted girls.

As Senators have noted, this is a fluid situation. Developments in the past 24 hours, including the release of the video that appeared to show a number of the young women being held in a forested area, as well as the demand for a prisoner exchange by Boko Haram, indicates that the group seeks to engage in negotiations. Ireland welcomes the offer of operational support from its EU partners, the United Kingdom and France, as well as from the United States, to help find the missing schoolgirls. However, primary responsibility to secure the safe release of the schoolgirls rests with the Nigerian authorities. It is important that the European Union stresses the need for the Government of Nigeria to take all appropriate steps to protect its citizens and bring the girls back to their families. It is important that we intensify the co-ordination of the European Union's efforts in Abuja in order to maximise the pressure and support we can bring to bear on the Nigerian authorities. The Irish Embassy in Abuja is ready to take part in efforts to step up our engagement with the Nigerian side. I have asked my officials to keep in close contact with the Embassy of Nigeria in Dublin in order that the concerns of the Irish people, and now the concerns expressed by the Senators here in the House, are made known and we can have full information on the efforts of the Nigerian authorities to find the abducted girls.

I plan to return to Nigeria later this year during which time I plan to have high level meetings with the Government representatives in Abuja.

Acting Chairman (Senator Susan O'Keeffe)

I thank the Minister of State.

Senator Michael Mullins

I thank the Minister of State for his response to the motion. It is welcome that there has been some positive developments and, as he indicated, that he is working closely with our EU partners to encourage and help the Nigerian Government intensify its efforts to bring the girls home safely to their families. We all call on the terrorist organisation that is holding the girls to release them to their families, without pre-conditions. It would be our dearest wish that would happen, as a matter of urgency.

I thank all of my colleagues in the House for supporting the motion. Senator Jim Walsh suggested we should strengthen the motion but I ask him to take back his request. Instead, I suggest that we have a wide-ranging debate in the House in the near future on the whole issue in Nigeria, not just the kidnapping issue. If Senator Jim Walsh is happy with my suggestion, I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate in the near future.

Senator Jim Walsh

I support the Senator's suggestion, but I am uncomfortable with dealing with a selective atrocity. We are talking about a very heinous crime here.

Acting Chairman (Senator Susan O'Keeffe)

An amendment can be made formally.

Senator Jim Walsh

When one takes into consideration all of the other atrocities, particularly the killing of children which I have listed, it makes me uncomfortable. In the light of the way the Senator has put his suggestion, I accept what he has said and I trust that we will have a full debate in the very near future that will encompass all of the issues. We can join together as a group in the Chamber to condemn the atrocities, in particular the genocide perpetrated against Christians in that locality.

Question put and agreed to.

Acting Chairman (Senator Susan O'Keeffe)

When is it proposed to sit again?

Senator Michael Mullins

Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.