Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that we do not have capacity and personnel permanently available on the ground to do that. We work through our European colleagues in all situations. With regard to the overall funding, Ireland has contributed €12.5 million to the UN central emergency response fund so far this year. We give it to the fund. Ireland has directly contributed €12.5 million this year so that it can be ready for accidents and emergencies as and when they arise, rather than having a discussion on the day. The extra funding we announced was an immediate and additional humanitarian response to the emergency at hand. It is in addition to the money we had already provided. We also provide funding to the World Health Organization, which has emergency medical stocks available in several locations around the world. We do that each year so that we can be ready for these crises. This was an immediate top-up on the day of the crisis on top of the funding we provide annually.

See this speech in context