11. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the G20 in South Africa. [5811/26]

Sentiment score: 0.00

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Taoiseach as ucht an nuacht sin a thabhairt don Teach maidir leis an gcruinniú G20. Like Deputy Ó Cearúil I welcome that the EU-India free-trade deal has been finalised today, and the excellent opportunities that provides for SMEs and exporters in our country. What sense did the Taoiseach get from members of the G20 of the importance of continuing to form free-trade deals across the globe and showing multilateralism and free trade is the right approach to take in order to confirm prosperity and peace for everyone? South Africa is a great friend of Ireland and President Ramaphosa was one of the weapons inspectors during the Northern Ireland peace process. There is a strong voice for Africa in this year's G20 summit, which will be hosted by the United States. Ireland will be making it clear that Africa needs to have a voice at this global table.

Sentiment score: 0.52

19. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Taoiseach for a report on his attendance at the EU-African Union summit. [5812/26]

Sentiment score: 0.00

I thank the Taoiseach for his report on the EU-African Union summit. I raise again the issue in Sudan and the crisis that continues there. Thousands have been killed and 800,000 people face starvation. Of the 17 million school-age children in Sudan, 13 million are not attending school. That is absolutely crazy when we think about it. Hospitals and schools are being incinerated. Now is the time for the African Union to step up and play its leadership role in the region with the support of multilateral actors. This is not only to say that it lets itself be held by vested interests but to say that it has an interest in the stability and security of the continent itself, that it supports peace and that it will call on the Sudanese authorities to map out a very clear timeline with firm dates for a full transition to democracy. This crisis is happening on our doorsteps. It is estimated that the famine that will ensue in Sudan will outcount what happened in Ethiopia in the 1980s. We cannot stand by any longer. The EU, as a senior multilateral partner, is now required to lead globally and put that pressure on the African Union.

Sentiment score: -0.06