Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would be reasonably confident that the roadmap that has been put in place, which culminates in elections taking place on 28 July, will be achieved. The EU was very quick to respond to the situation. France intervened in January and at the informal meeting of the Development Ministers on 9-10 February in Dublin Castle, the first real discussion of the issue took place. It was decided at that point that a roadmap would be put in place, there would be nation building and there would be the release of €250 million by the EU to get moving on dealing with the humanitarian situation. Since then, steps along the way have brought us towards the transition to the fulfilment of the roadmap. It is intended that the French troops would evacuate at the time the elections take place, the transition Government would step down before the elections and that, when the elections take place, a new Government would become operational.

Part of the process was to ensure a commission on mediation and reconciliation was established and that this would operate before the elections took place. This was to ensure contact would be made and agreement reached with the Tuareg in the run-up to the elections. Agreement was reached and the interim peace agreement was signed on 18 June. I believe this will, to a much greater extent, ensure the elections are peaceful and transparent.

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