Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views of the Iraqi conflict on the third anniversary of the invasion of that country; the discussions to which the Government has been party to which have sought to clarify the prospects for the future of Iraq as well as the ongoing occupation of the country by coalition troops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13123/06]

Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has held discussions with his EU counterparts with regard to the alleged fraudulent handling of Iraqi money set aside for reconstruction work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13050/06]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent meeting with Iraq's newly-appointed ambassador to Ireland, Dr. Salah Al-Shaikhly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13096/06]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the security situation in Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13006/06]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the security situation in Iraq; if his attention has been drawn to UN concerns with regard to the safety of Palestinians living in that State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13025/06]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he will take to ensure a UN investigation into alleged misappropriation of Iraqi money during reconstruction works in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13039/06]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has expressed the Government's concern regarding atrocities committed by American troops in Iraq to the United States Government; his views on whether the coalition should withdraw troops from Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13091/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 48, 49, 94, 97, 109 and 112 together.

Regarding the general political and security situation in Iraq and the allegations of the misappropriation of funds for reconstruction, I refer the Deputies to my previous replies to two Priority Questions. Despite very real progress in the establishment of democratic political institutions in Iraq, the Government and our partners in the EU are seriously concerned about the continuing violence in the country and the increased threat of civil strife. The formation of a new, broadly based Iraqi Government following the democratic elections held in December is now an urgent priority. The EU is determined to continue to support the Iraqi Government and people as they work to reconstruct their political and economic systems and society following years of dictatorship and war.

I would like to address a number of specific points raised by Deputies in these questions. It is important to recognise that the status of the US-led coalition in Iraq changed in June 2004. The international forces are now there under a UN mandate and at the invitation of the elected Iraqi Government. As recently as November 2005 the Security Council unanimously extended that mandate until the end of 2006. I look forward to the day when the Government of Iraq decides it has the resources and capacity to provide security for its citizens without outside help. Regrettably, that day has not yet arrived.

I met the new Iraqi ambassador to Ireland, Dr. Salah Al-Shaikhly, when he presented his credentials to President McAleese on 21 March. I was pleased to welcome him as the first Iraqi ambassador accredited to Ireland in more than 15 years. We had a useful discussion on the situation in Iraq and the prospects for progress. I assured him of the deep sympathy in Ireland for the suffering of the Iraqi people. Dr. Al-Shaikhly was frank about the difficulties facing Iraq at present but was anxious to emphasise that much of the country was largely free of the violence reported daily in the media. He also said that Iraq continues to need military assistance from international forces while looking forward to the day when the Iraqi authorities could assume full responsibility for security. Deputies will wish to be aware that I also underlined the great importance the Government and her family attach to the Iraqi authorities finding and bringing to justice the killers of Mrs. Margaret Hassan and locating her remains. The ambassador assured me that he would do everything he could to ensure progress on this tragic case.

I am aware of reports, to which Deputy Allen referred, concerning the situation of Palestinian refugees in Iraq, in particular the small group of refugees that left a camp near Baghdad and attempted unsuccessfully to cross into Jordan. Unfortunately, it is the case that increasing sectarian strife has raised the sense of threat felt by minority groups such as Palestinians, Turkomans and members of the different Iraqi Christian communities. The Government supports the statement of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, who urged the Iraqi Government, despite all the difficulties, to fulfil its obligations to protect refugees in its territory. Most of the Palestinians in question have been in Iraq for decades. Indeed, many of them were born in Iraq and I would agree with the approach of the UNHCR in asking the Iraqi authorities to expedite the process of granting them legal residency within the country as the best means of putting their status on a firmer footing. I would also agree with the UNHCR that the area of western Iraq near the Jordanian border is considerably more dangerous than the camps where they had been based.

I am of course concerned by reports alleging excessive use of force by international forces in Iraq. The Government has clearly stated its view numerous times that any use of force in civilian areas should be kept to a minimum and every effort must be made to avoid civilian casualties. The US authorities are fully aware of the Government's views and our specific concerns about incidents such as those at Abu Ghraib prison. At this time, the greatest threat to the Iraqi people comes from armed groups that are attempting to foment large scale civil strife and chaos through gun and bomb attacks on innocent men, women and children going about their daily lives. No one can excuse the use of force from whatever source directed against the civilian population. It is our duty at this stage to give our full support to those courageous Iraqis who are working in very difficult circumstances to create a new, united, democratic and prosperous Iraq following years in which their country's potential has been sapped by dictatorship and war.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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We have discussed some of these issues through other Priority Questions but I will put them to the Minister as follows: The current head of security of the interim Iraqi Government suggests that it is in charge of approximately 30% of the country. More than 80% of all people polled in Iraq are in agreement that it would be the best outcome if foreign occupational forces left the country. At the same time, there is the issue of how to create security. Has the future federal structure of Iraq been discussed at the level of the European Council of Ministers? I previously put it to the Minister that the talks taking place between the United States and Iran, for example, is an attempt to determine if an agreement with the Shi'ite community would enable a withdrawal of US troops in the short term. However, this would inevitably lead to the exclusion of Sunni groups. We have heard nothing from any European Minister regarding the future of Iraq's Kurdish areas. Does all of this mean the likelihood of a break up of Iraq being the only means by which a withdrawal of foreign troops can be managed?

The Minister would find it difficult in international law to suggest that the nature of a country's occupation, originally without a mandate, could be changed even with a Security Council resolution. For example, does this mean that the new force involved in the task of reconstruction is now bound by all international conventions, including the Geneva Convention, in its relations and responsibilities to the civilian population? If so, why did Dr. Condoleezza Rice say that thousands of mistakes have been made in Iraq?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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To the best of my knowledge, there have been no discussions with my officials on the structure, federal or otherwise, of the Iraqi Government. As I said in previous replies, the EU is adamant that the Government's formation is entirely a matter for the Iraqi people and that the Administration to be formed must be as broadly based as possible. All efforts should be made in that area.

As the Deputy knows, the UN mandate is sometimes misunderstood in terms of the presence of the multinational force currently in Iraq. On 8 November 2005, the UN Security Council unanimously mandated for the first time the presence of the international force to continue until 2006 or any earlier period. While it does not currently appear as though it will leave, troops must comply with all international laws and standards on human rights.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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It is a fig leaf to an imperialistic occupation.