Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 83 together.

The earthquake of 12 January has been a devastating tragedy for the people of Haiti. It is estimated that well over 200,000 people have died. More than 1.2 million people are displaced, living in temporary shelters in and around the capital city, Port au Prince. A further 480,000 people are reported to have left the city and taken refuge in rural areas. Much of Haiti's key infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.

It is agreed internationally that the United Nations should take the lead in the humanitarian response to such disasters and emergencies. In co-ordination with the United Nations, the European Union has taken decisive and comprehensive action to assist the people of Haiti. At the operational level, immediate support was provided through the deployment of search and rescue teams, and other expert personnel. EU member states and the European Commission quickly committed significant levels of emergency funding for emergency assistance, and airlifts of humanitarian supplies were organised.

On 18 January, the Monday after the earthquake, an extraordinary session of the EU Foreign Affairs Council was convened in Brussels to focus on the situation in Haiti. At the Council, the European Union pledged €122 million in humanitarian assistance, in addition to €100 million for the restoration of Government capacity in Haiti and €200 million for longer-term development. At its regular monthly meeting on 25 January, the Foreign Affairs Council reviewed the co-ordination of the European Union response, as well as contributions of member state military and security assets. In response to the needs identified by the UN, the Council agreed that the Union would provide a collective contribution of at least 300 police personnel to the UN stabilisation mission in Haiti, to be co-ordinated by the High Representative, Catherine Ashton.

The informal meeting of the European Council in Brussels last Thursday reviewed the EU response in Haiti. The Taoiseach and his colleagues were agreed that the European Union will have a key role to play in Haiti's recovery and rehabilitation over the medium and longer term. Together with the Haitian Government, the UN, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, the European Commission is now participating in a comprehensive post-disaster needs assessment. When completed, this assessment will provide an important framework for international support into the recovery phase.

The Irish people have shown remarkable generosity in response to the needs of the people of Haiti. On their behalf, the Government has also played an important role, directly and as part of the overall European Union response. The details of that response are well known to the House.

Looking ahead, it is important that the European Union and the wider international community examine the response to the earthquake in Haiti and identify ways in which operational effectiveness could be further improved in future emergencies. The response in Haiti, for example, reflected many of the lessons learned in coping with the effects of the terrible tsunami in Asia in 2004. Ireland will ensure that the lessons learned from Haiti further strengthen the role the EU can play in future, in close co-ordination with the United Nations and other agencies.

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