Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 June 2012
180 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent visit to Sierra Leone and Liberia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29773/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy visit to West Africa between the 1st and the 8th of June 2012 provided me with an invaluable opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the considerable challenges facing Sierra Leone and Liberia and to see first-hand the contribution being made by Ireland through Irish Aid to both countries. The visit also included a short stop-over in Accra Ghana to view the UN Humanitarian Depot, and dispatch an essential life-saving shipment of Irish Aid stocks and supplies for refugees affected by the ongoing crisis in the Sahel.
Both Sierra Leone and Liberia have worked to consolidate peace since their inter-connected civil wars ended a little over a decade ago. The conflicts in both countries led to immense destruction and loss of life, and left a challenging legacy for the fledgling democratic institutions which are being now being developed there. In Sierra Leone, the war, which was funded and fuelled in no small part by Charles Taylor, the former Liberian President (who is currently indicted for war crimes), resulted in the death of over 50,000 people. In Liberia, the civil war which ended in 2003 claimed over 250,000 lives and displaced over 1 million people as well as devastating the country's social, political and physical infrastructure. It is praiseworthy however that despite this painful past, both countries have enjoyed a sustained period of peace and security for the past decade and Ireland has played its part in assisting this peaceful transition. During my trip, I met with a large number of Sierra Leoneans and Liberians who expressed hope and optimism for the future. People are moving forward and do not want to return to conflict.
Sierra Leone and Liberia remain however among the poorest countries in the world, ranked 180 and 182 respectively of 187 countries on the 2011 UN Human Development Index. The average Liberian has a life expectancy of 57 years, has less than four years of schooling and lives on less than $1.25 a day. Five out of every 100 Liberian women will die from giving birth. While the malnutrition situation has improved significantly since 2006, chronic malnutrition remains among the highest in the world at almost 42%. Life expectancy in Sierra Leone is 48 years, and 53% of the population of 6 million live below the absolute poverty line with maternal and under-five child mortality rates among the highest in the world. Ireland's development engagement in both countries seeks to specifically target these difficult development challenges.
Ireland's programme in Sierra Leone is primarily focused on addressing the issues of nutrition and food security. I saw the benefits of this support first hand when I visited an Agricultural Business Centre while in the northern town of Makeni where I met with successful smallholder farmers who can now add value to their crops and successfully sell at market. During my visit to St. Joseph's School for the Hearing Impaired also in Makeni, I had the opportunity to see a school-feeding programme supported by Ireland, which ensures that school-age children are provided with at least one nutritious meal per day. In Makeni, I also visited a Caritas supported programme which provides counselling and vocational training to former child soldiers. While there, I announced funding of €50,000 to Caritas, for its critical work in supporting those affected by conflict to build new lives and livelihoods.
In Liberia, a key focus of Irish effort is on strengthening the country's health systems and basic primary health care services. Irish and other development partner support has enabled a 24% expansion in the network of public health facilities and a doubling of the number of facilities providing the Basic Package of Health Services free of charge to all citizens. I visited an urban health facility in Monrovia, where I was able to see how Ireland's support has helped to significantly increase access to basic health and to strengthen health systems for the poorest and most vulnerable communities. While there, I announced further funding of €4 million euro to the Health Sector which will build on the important results achieved to date.
Ireland also provides support to the Liberia National Police. In Monrovia, I paid a visit to the National Police Training Academy in Monrovia to see how Ireland's support has contributed to the police force's capacity to maintain peace and provide security for the citizens of Liberia. I also met with the Deputy Commissioner of an Garda Síochána who was in Liberia at the time leading a review of Ireland's support to the Liberia National Police.
I took part in a number of high level political meetings during his visit, including with President Ernest Koroma of Sierra Leone and Vice President Joseph Boakai of Liberia (as well as several key Government Ministers). These discussions provided an opportunity to learn more about the challenges and progress being made by both countries in fostering economic growth and development, improving social service delivery and consolidating the democratic process. I took the opportunity to inform the Ministers from both countries about Ireland's strategy for deeper engagement with Africa, launched in 2011. I explained that this approach aims to place a greater emphasis on private sector investment and trade as an engine for sustainable development and I invited my West African counterparts to engage with us more fully on this agenda.
Ireland's support to Sierra Leone and Liberia demonstrates our commitment to working in fragile environments and supporting the recovery efforts and successful transition of countries emerging from conflict. Given the vulnerability of these fragile environments, my visit to West Africa has re-affirmed my view that it is imperative that Ireland provides supports to governments of countries in transition to enable them to assume responsibility for the arduous journey towards long term peace and development. I am furthermore convinced that Ireland can do more to assist Sierra Leone and Liberia not only in terms of aid, but also in terms of fostering trade and investment by Irish businesses.
