Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

Almost two weeks ago a massive earthquake struck Japan, followed by a tsunami and a nuclear emergency. This is the worst crisis the country has faced since the Second World War. Having no history of natural disasters, it is difficult for us to imagine the scale of the devastation and destruction. Since the crisis began the number of people who have lost their lives has dramatically increased and Sky News has reported this morning it now totals 24,000 people.

Thousands of people have lost their lives, millions are displaced and there is a lack of food and water. Entire villages were swept away by a wall of water up to ten metres high and the threat of radiation from Fukushima power plant is looming. We are also told that rescue efforts have been hampered by adverse weather conditions. For survivors who have lost their homes and all their belongings this is more hardship to be endured.

The Japanese have a long history of earthquake planning and were better prepared than most but even so, the scale of the challenge they face is enormous. This was, after all, the biggest earthquake in 140 years. Within 24 hours of the disaster, Japan had mobilised 50,000 military and other rescue personnel to spearhead the rescue effort. Its defence forces have also been working night and day, with hundreds of ships, aircraft and vehicles in the devastated areas. Emergency staff from Britain and Australia, who have specialist skills and experience, have been sent to the area to help with the rescue effort.

When the earthquake struck the US already had 38,000 troops stationed in Japan. The American military has committed dozens of aircraft and thousands of marines and sailors to the rescue effort in the past week. This demonstrates how a humanitarian crisis can bring together two countries with very different cultures and experiences.

According to the latest information from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on the aftermath and response to the Japanese earthquake

and tsunami the Government of Japan has received 128 offers of assistance from countries, as well as 33 offers from international organisations. It has accepted relief items from 14 countries and more than 78,000 blankets have been received and then channelled through the Japan Red Cross Society. In total, 890 international search and rescue specialists and 37 rescue dogs, from 20 teams representing 15 countries, have supported the Japanese rescue teams in this disaster response. The majority have now completed their assignments and only four teams remain. It is expected that all teams will finish their missions this week.

The Irish Government has pledged €1 million to the Red Cross effort and Irish Aid has also provided blankets, mattresses and water tanks from our stockpiles in Malaysia and Dubai. The Irish response to the crisis has been led by our embassy official in Tokyo and our crisis centre in Dublin. The European Commission's monitoring and information centre is in the process of receiving and compiling offers of assistance. So far, the MIC has received confirmed offers from 12 EU member states. Perhaps the Minister for Foreign Affairs could confirm if we have offered assistance in this regard. The rapid response unit set up in the wake of the Asian tsunami would I am sure provide excellent support and assistance to the Japanese at this time.

Last week the European Commission dispatched a 15 member EU civil protection team to Tokyo, which is working with the Japanese authorities. One of the most alarming aspects of this crisis is the threat of radiation from the nuclear power plant in Fukushima. The earthquake and tsunami shattered the plant, allowing radiation leaks that have seeped into vegetables, raw milk, the water supply and even seawater. The situation remains serious, with the authorities still struggling to stabilise the plant and radiation levels are still far too high.

Even if the short-term risk is limited for now, scientists have made comparisons with the 1986 Chernobyl disaster when some radioactive particles travelled up

the food chain and stayed in the environment for decades. The US Food and Drug Administration has placed an import alert on all milk, dairy products, fresh vegetables and fruits from Fukushima.

The scale of the fall-out and the long-term effects will only be revealed in time. Here nuclear power is a very sensitive and emotive issue. We have campaigned for the closure of Sellafield for many years and we are all too aware about the risks nuclear power presents.

Fianna Fáil supports the Government in terms of providing aid or personnel to Japan at this very difficult time. The Japanese people have endured so much and have so many challenges ahead of them, we cannot but be impressed with the solidarity, endurance and resilience they have shown in the past two weeks. I extend my deepest sympathies to the Japanese people at this very difficult time.

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