Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

I join the Acting Chairman in congratulating the new Members who contributed to what has been a wide-ranging and informed debate, including Deputies Nicky McFadden, Ann Phelan, Peter Mathews and Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. I acknowledge the concerns expressed, in particular from the Opposition benches, and reiterate that the action was taken in response to requests from the civilians in Libya who feared for their lives, with support from the region and, as many speakers said during the debate, in response to the unanimous UN Resolution 1973.

I will outline Ireland's consular and humanitarian actions to date and make some observations on the international community's reaction to the crisis. As the crisis began in Libya, the priority of the Irish Government was the well-being of our citizens. In the week beginning 14 February, as it became clear that tensions were rising in Libya, the Government and the Department of Foreign Affairs became increasingly concerned for the safety of Irish citizens there. The Department advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Libya and on 16 February travel advice was amended to reflect the specific risk posed by demonstrations. Also on that date, the Irish Embassy in Rome, which is accredited to Libya, contacted all Irish citizens in Libya of whom they were aware and asked them to register their full contact details if they had not already done so. It asked also that they request any other Irish citizens in Libya of whom they were aware to do likewise.

By 17 February, the situation had further escalated and it was decided to advise citizens not to travel to Libya. The Department continued to monitor the situation and to liaise with EU partners, in particular those with missions in Tripoli, throughout the weekend of 19-20 February. On the morning of 21 February, the consular crisis centre was opened. Ten call handlers were assigned to the centre to deal with calls to a dedicated help line, which was open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. each week day and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, 26 and 27 February. In addition, a crisis management group was established to co-ordinate our efforts and to liaise closely with our EU, US and other colleagues.

To lend further assistance to Irish citizens caught up in this crisis, two Air Corps aircraft and crew were deployed to Malta together with the Emergency Civilian Assistance Team, a team of Department of Foreign Affairs officials and a member of the Garda Síochána. They were joined by the Irish ambassador to Italy and a consular official. The aircraft, together with the Defence and ECAT team, made three flights to Tripoli, in the course of which the team members assisted in the evacuation of Irish and other EU citizens. Irish citizens were assisted to board flights from a number of EU countries and we, in turn, brought out an emergency medical case.

To date, the Department of Foreign Affairs has assisted some 140 citizens in their departure from Libya. Not all Irish citizens sought to avail of options to leave Libya. Currently, approximately 73 Irish citizens remain. Of these, 57 are in Tripoli, six in Misratah and ten in Benghazi. The Department has maintained contact with all Irish citizens in Libya known to it and with their families in Ireland. Since the air strikes began, we have been trying to contact all the Irish citizens who remain in Libya to inquire as to their safety and welfare. They are understandably concerned, in particular as exit routes out of the country remain difficult. We are maintaining regular contact with them and will provide whatever assistance is possible, in co-operation with those European states with representation still in the country.

As Minister of State with responsibility for trade and development, I am responsible for the Irish response to the humanitarian situation in Libya, which remains extremely worrying. The UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Libya, Mr. Rashid Khalikov, has described it as one marked by violations of human rights, with serious concerns about the impact of the fighting on civilian populations and possible violations of international humanitarian law. Reports of the increasing use of heavy weapons in populated areas are particularly disturbing given the dangers this poses to the civilian population. We are also concerned for civilians living in or near areas where there has been heavy fighting, especially in towns such as Misratah and Adjabiya. Ireland will continue to insist that all parties take all possible measures to spare civilians the effects of the hostilities.

The Government is also extremely concerned that most parts of Libya remain closed to aid workers. An inability to access areas in which civilians are at risk makes it extremely difficult to obtain independent information about the conditions facing the civilian population and an accurate picture of what has happened in cities which have been recaptured by Gadaffi forces. Along with other EU member states, Ireland will continue to call on the Libyan Government to permit full and unhindered access for humanitarian agencies.

The crisis in Libya has already had serious ramifications for its neighbours. During the past month, more than 350,000 people, mostly migrant workers, have fled across the country's borders to Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Niger, prompting a major international relief effort. In recent days, the numbers have declined and those still crossing the borders are now being dealt with efficiently by the receiving countries and relevant UN agencies. However, approximately 9,000 people remain stranded along Libya's borders with Tunisia and Egypt where they continue to await onward transport to their countries of origin. I acknowledge the significant contribution made by the authorities in Egypt and Tunisia in facilitating and contributing to the international humanitarian response. This contribution is particularly praiseworthy in light of the recent dramatic events which both countries have experienced.

Clearly, the overall situation remains unpredictable and any significant intensification in fighting runs the risk of generating much larger-scale population movements. With Libya normally importing some 90% of its food, much of it through ports on the Mediterranean coast which have been damaged by the fighting, there is also potential for significant shortages of food supplies should the situation deteriorate further. The Irish Government, through Irish Aid, has already contributed approximately €400,000 in response to the crisis, through direct funding and in-kind assistance. This assistance included the transport of 18,500 blankets and 100 tents from our pre-positioned stocks in Brindisi for distribution by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR, as well as €250,000 for the International Organisation for Migration to help transport some of those stranded at border areas back to their countries of origin. In addition to this €400,000, I am pleased to inform Members, that, as already announced, I have today authorised a further €250,000 for the International Organisation for Migration to help it to continue the evacuation process and as part of its contingency planning for a potential escalation of the crisis. This contribution follows an appeal made this week by the United Nations.

The Department of Foreign Affairs stands ready to provide further support in response to the needs identified within Libya by the United Nations and other aid agencies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC. The humanitarian situation lies at the core of international action on Libya. As the Tánaiste stated, the Government welcomes the adoption by the United Nations Security Council of Resolution 1973 to help protect civilians in Libya. It is worth recalling that as UN Security Council members voted last Thursday Colonel Gadaffi's troops had advanced to the perimeter of Benghazi and were preparing for a final assault to take the city, which they said would be dealt with mercilessly.

The people of Benghazi and the Libyan National Transition Council appealed to the international community to intervene to save them from the murderous mass reprisals that would undoubtedly have ensued if the city had fallen. Large numbers of Benghazi residents had fled to hide in the mountains. Through the Arab League the region had also appealed for help and specifically for a no-fly zone to be established.

One week on, the needs of Libyan civilians remain great. Misratah remains under siege and in desperate need of food and medicines. Unknown numbers of migratory workers hide in Libyan towns, endangered by Colonel Gadaffi's reckless policy of recruiting mercenaries, many of whom are also from sub-Saharan Africa. It is vital that Resolution 1973 continues to be implemented in a manner that is proportionate, targeted and avoids civilian casualties.

Reports from Tripoli and elsewhere refer to specifically military targets being attacked and members of the international coalition reportedly rightly turning back from targets when intelligence suggested that Colonel Gadaffi had moved human shields to target locations. After five nights of air strikes, a no-fly zone is now in place and Colonel Gadaffi's forces has been repelled from Benghazi. These efforts are not intended to bring about regime change. However, there can be no doubt that Colonel Gadaffi has lost all legitimacy to rule, and there are no circumstances in which one can envisage him or his family continuing to play a political role in Libya. Furthermore, a protracted conflict is not in the interests of the Libyan people, regional neighbours or the international community. The Government calls upon Colonel Gadaffi to order an immediate and genuine cessation of his military offensive. The Government is closely monitoring the upheaval in other parts of the Arab world at present and we will return to those issues again.

My focus as Minister of State with responsibility for trade and development is on the humanitarian dimensions of the crisis. If a ceasefire and peaceful transfer of power can be achieved, the Libyan people will need considerable help to build a democratic administration and society. I look forward to the day when Ireland and the EU, as an immediate neighbour of Libya, can assist it to rebuild the state and move towards a democratic future.

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