Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his detailed outline of the issues discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council. With regard to the Ebola outbreak, I want to put on the record our recognition of the important role played by officials in the Minister's Department and by Irish NGOs. Both Ireland and the EU have been substantial donors in regard to dealing with this outbreak. Does the Minister know what percentage of the pledges made by the international community have been honoured or realised to date in this fight against Ebola? Similarly, what percentage of such pledges of humanitarian aid for Syria has been honoured?

The Minister referred, understandably, to the terrorist attacks in Paris and elsewhere. It is important that the European Union gives out a clear message that we will not allow terrorist attacks to undermine our commitment and our resolve to guarantee freedom of speech and all liberties associated with liberal democracies. Member states of the EU must be very clear and must do all they can to resist political and religious extremism in all its forms, whether it comes in the guise of far-left or far-right policies or from people of whatever belief.

We spoke at this committee previously about the need for a better working-out of the Eastern Partnership. The Minister referred in his contribution to consideration being given to the overall relations with Russia. Does the Minister think an escalation or a lessening of the sanctions against Russia is being considered in the short term? It is important that the European Union has a united response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Initially, the European Union response was all over the place. The High Representative was going to table a plan to normalise working relations. That was not appropriate and better counsel prevailed in the European Commission and at the council. We should also recognise that it is the far left and far right who are the loudest voices against sanctions and in defence of Russia. It is important that we also recognise that there is a threat to the European Union from a neighbouring state that clearly has a policy of trying to undermine not only those who aspire to European Union membership but also some current member states. As a country that fought so long for independence and that holds dearly the idea of sovereignty, Ireland should stand strong and united against the bullying and neo-imperialist behaviour shown by Russia. There are many other EU member states with very chequered histories on self-determination which would share our view. As a country, we should be strong in that opinion because it comes from our experience of a hard struggle to win independence. We also suffered from an imposed partition, so we should appreciate the difficulties and the reprehensible behaviour of any major state in annexing part of another country.

The Minister did not mention the Middle East in his contribution. I welcome his visit to the region and some of the commentary attributed to him while he was there. When he was in Israel, he said the EU needed to up its game in regard to the Middle East peace process. Does he intend to bring forward at forthcoming council meetings specific measures that he thinks could help to advance the proposed peace process for that region? He will have seen at first hand the significant effects of the blockade on Gaza on the people of that area. The humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by the continuation of that blockade. Some months ago the Minister attended a conference at which he made a commitment on behalf of the Irish people in regard to some very substantial funds towards the rebuilding of Gaza.

My understanding is this rebuilding has not commenced and that the humanitarian aid pledged is not reaching the places where it is needed. I read some commentary recently that at the rate the building materials were reaching Gaza, it would take more than 100 years to carry out the rebuilding programme. Surely that is utterly reprehensible. If the international community is serious about helping people affected by huge humanitarian disasters to live normal lives, if at all possible, it must find the means to honour pledges when they are made to improve the lives of people in affected areas.