Ebola crisis shows how world is interdependent

The ebola outbreak in West Africa has provided a stark reminder that we cannot afford to ignore problems abroad.

The world is now facing a global health crisis, because it has long disregarded the inadequacy of health care and public services in Sierra Leone and Liberia. It is hard to avoid Kofi Annan’s conclusion that the international community was happy to ignore what it saw as an African problem.

We must celebrate that Ireland has been appointed to lead a UN-wide process of negotiations, to find a strategy to fight the biggest challenges of the 21st century.