Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Ryan and others who have called for a debate on the overseas development aid programme. I have asked for this over recent weeks, specifically in respect of Ethiopia but support the view that we should have a wider debate about the overseas aid programme, and our response to the impending disaster in African countries. This is the view of Senator Kitt who is Chairman of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs sub-committee on overseas development and has an intimate knowledge of this area.

Once again, I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate on the Middle East, specifically on what appears to be a growing humanitarian disaster in the Palestinian area. According to a UN report covered in today's newspapers, 153,000 people employed by the Palestinian Authority will suffer if there is a cut in donor aid internationally and if the Israelis continue to hold up over $60 million in monthly payments to the authority.

The report makes clear that there will be a massive humanitarian disaster if this aid is not forthcoming, because over 900,000 people in the Palestinian area rely on wages from the Palestinian Authority. There could be a breakdown of water and sewerage services and health care because over half of the budget goes to the Ministry of Health.

I cannot understand why the Israeli Foreign Minister is visiting European capitals justifying the withdrawal of the $60 million which belongs to the Palestinian Authority, notwithstanding the view we share of Hamas being in government. This is no more than a human rights issue. On that basis I ask the Leader to arrange a debate at the earliest opportunity to establish the Irish position on humanitarian aid and the unilateral Israeli withdrawal of payments due to the Palestinian Authority.