Feargal Quinn (Independent)

The Irish people have had a strong record for many years in terms of assisting the Third World and of providing aid. As Senator de Búrca stated, today is Earth Day. We should take this opportunity to remind ourselves of the recently published statistic that more than 1 billion of the 6 billion people on Earth live on less than $1 per day yet food is increasing in price by approximately 20%. This puts these people into dire poverty and increases the risk of famine. As Senator O'Sullivan stated, it is time we debated this issue.

Before I came into the House today, I visited the Irish National Environmental Showcase in the Royal College of Physicians which focuses on concerns in respect of climate change. Part of the problem is that given much of our food is being diverted to fuel, it is likely we will not have enough food to feed the world's population. Let us ensure people do not come back to us in 20 or 30 years time and say that Ireland, a wealthy country, in debating issues such as the position taken by Commissioner Mandelson and Irish farmers, turned its eye away from the problems of the world and the 1 billion people likely to starve.