Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

First, I disagree with Deputy Daly in respect of the role of the United Nations in regard to Libya. This country has always argued that the United Nations should be at the centre, at the heart, of the actions taken by the international community, which was the case in this case. Resolution 1973 was for the purpose of ensuring that civilian populations would be protected. We can recall the way in which Gadaffi was attacking people in Misrata and, at an earlier stage, in Benghazi.

The position now is that it is not intended the United Nations will have any military presence in Libya. The presence that is intended by the UN is a civilian presence to support the establishment of democracy in Libya, the development of its public services and the rebuilding of the country after what has happened there.

As I said, Ireland has not been requested as of yet to provide any assistance. The type of request I would expect would be in the area of the provision of police, civil service experts, perhaps people from development agencies, such as Irish Aid, to develop humanitarian aid and perhaps in regard to infrastructural rebuilding. If we receive such a request, we will consider it very favourably, but no request has yet come.

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