MEP Gallagher calls for processed canned fish products to be part of the EU response for the people of Haiti

Mr. President, Haiti is a country in desperate need of help with medicine, food, water and shelter at critical levels.

Many people affected by the devastating earthquake are still awaiting assistance that has yet to arrive.

It is essential that the European Union is to the forefront of the international response to help the people of Haiti at this time.


To help alleviate the growing problem of food shortages, I strongly urge the European Commission to include food aid such as processed canned fish products as part of the EU response for the people of Haiti.

I know that canned fish products are high in protein and have a long shelf life and could be provided at short notice.

I now call on the European Commission and in particular the European Commissioner for Development Aid and the European Commissioner for Fisheries to seriously consider my proposal as a matter of urgency.

A Uachtaráin,

Le foinsé fíorghann leighis, bia agus uisce agus fadhbanna móra dídine acu tá géarghá ag Poblacht Háití le cúnamh agus cabhrach práinneach.

Tá an-chuid daoine sna ceantair gur bhuail an crith talún iad ag fanacht ar chabhair nach bhfuil tagtha fós.

Tá sé riachtanach go mbíonn an tAontas Eorpach chun tosaigh san fhreagairt idirnáisiúnta atá curtha i bhfeidhm le tacaíocht agus cúnamh a thabhairt do phobal Haiti.

Chun dianfhadhb an ghanntanais bia a mhaolú, tathantaíom ar an gCoimisiún Eorpach cúmanh bia ar nós cannaí éisc a chur ar fáil mar chuid de fhreagairt an Aontais Eorpaigh i leith Haiti.

Tá a leithéad táirgí iasc stánaithe árd i bpróitéin, tá seilf-ré fada acu agus is féidir iad a chur ar fáil ar ghearrfhógra.

Mar sin, iaraim ar an Choimisiún Eorpacha, agus ar na Coimisinéirí le freagracht acu i leith Cúnaimh Forbartha agus Iascaigh ach go háirithe, an togra seo a bhreithniú go práinneach.