Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy rightly pointed out, the Commissioner had no legal basis to say what he did in a particular tweet. The Government contacted the European Union very quickly to ask it to clarify the tweet issued by the Commissioner and later that evening a statement issued pointing out that this was not a suspension of aid in any shape or form. We know the EU has stated a review will be commenced. Our view, which we have made very clear, is that this needs to be very quick. We do not want to see any reduction in aid or key funding. Some €1.1 billion over a five-year period is earmarked for the region and we want to continue with and strengthen that aid because of what we are faced with now. We have been strongly calling for that. We know there are certain circumstances around the EU and that we are operating in a challenging environment with elections in different countries. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, there are destabilising factors in the region with potential Iranian funding of Hezbollah and Hamas. It means putting a very complex jigsaw together but we will keep trying to increase humanitarian aid, and continue calling for de-escalation and working with leaders in the region.