Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the present situation as pertains in Iraq. [3682/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the most recent estimate available to him for the loss of civilian lives and military lives in the Iraq war; and his views on whether the war has been illegal and without mandate, and has caused incalculable harm to the prospects for international stability. [3686/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 139 together.

After several years of deepening crisis, there have been clear signs of a significant improvement in the security situation in Iraq in the past six months. There has been a marked reduction in violence in almost all areas, especially Baghdad, and in many towns and cities something approaching normal civilian life has again become possible. However, as the appalling bombings in Baghdad demonstrated last week, the situation facing the Iraqi people remains fraught and dangerous.

The strengthened security drive launched by Iraqi and US forces has been a key element in the reduction in deaths and violent attacks. Other critical factors have been the suppression of groups linked to al-Qaeda in Sunni areas and a ceasefire by the main Shia militia, which had been implicated in widespread sectarian killings. While welcoming the improvement, it is important to note that none of these factors is irreversible.

It has been clear that there is no simple security solution in Iraq. Lasting peace and stability can only be assured through a process of genuine political reconciliation between the communities in Iraq and the co-operation of all its regional neighbours. Unfortunately, the political reconciliation process has moved more slowly than desired. The passage of a new law relaxing the exclusion of former Ba'athists from public life is an important step but other crucial issues remain deadlocked for now, including the review of the constitution, division of oil and gas revenues and the position of Kirkuk. There have been suggestions of a more pragmatic engagement between the parties behind the scenes and the UN has strengthened its efforts to promote progress. It is now essential that Iraqi leaders act urgently in the eased security climate to achieve real progress in these areas.

There have been various attempts to estimate the casualties in Iraq, with a wide range of figures being suggested. The respected NGO, Iraq Body Count, estimates that between 80,000 and 90,000 civilians have been killed since 2003. This may represent an underestimate of the actual figures but I have no means of assessing the accuracy of the different figures. Whatever the figures, there is no room for doubt as to the appalling level of suffering experienced by ordinary Iraqi people. Nor can we lose sight of the resulting refugee crisis. There are more than 2 million refugees outside Iraq, mostly in Syria and Jordan, and perhaps another 2 million internally displaced. It is encouraging to note that a good number have returned to Iraq in recent months but it is also clear that very large numbers will need humanitarian assistance for some time to come. The EU and Ireland nationally will continue to play their part in addressing this crisis.

The Government has outlined its position on the legality of the war on many occasions. Ireland was not ready to participate in the 2003 military campaign in the absence of an explicit Security Council mandate. Since October 2003, the presence of the multinational force in Iraq has been authorised by a series of UN Security Council resolutions. The latest resolution, adopted unanimously in December on the request of the Iraqi Government, extends the mandate to the end of 2008.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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I am grateful the Minister is taking the two questions together. Question No. 139 asked him to state unequivocally that the Government's view was that the war was illegal and without mandate. He may wish to return to this question. It is not a case of Ireland being unable to participate in the absence of a resolution; it is a case of Ireland being required out of respect for international law to condemn a war that was illegal and without mandate.

I am grateful to the Minister for giving the tragic estimate of 80,000 to 90,000 for the number of civilians killed, although he agrees it is not possible to be precise. I am concerned that part of his reply seems to suggest that what is called the "surge" is having an effect. There is considerable evidence to suggest its effect is quite limited.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The legality or otherwise of the Iraq war has been debated many times inside and outside the House. There has been no international consensus as to whether it was legal or illegal.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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There has.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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We were not prepared to participate but the subsequent resolutions were put in place and, although they were not unanimously accepted originally, they are now unanimously accepted year on year. This has happened in particular at the request of the Iraqi Government, which seeks to have the continued presence of the multinational force to supplement the increasing level of Iraqi ability to secure its own territory.

We know from our situation that despite some of the most horrific and unfortunate recent events in Iraq, the level of violence across the entire country is much lower than it was, which we should welcome. Before Christmas, the Iraqi Foreign Minister briefed EU Foreign Ministers and painted a relatively good picture. To a certain extent, some of us would have been a bit sceptical, but there has been a significant reduction in the level of violence there.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is quite right that there have not been as many atrocities in Iraq in recent times, with the exception of the two horrific market bombings last weekend. Have the local security forces, including the police force, been more effective and have they received better training to deal with the security situation? For how much longer will international security forces, such as the Americans, British and others, be needed in Iraq?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I cannot put a date on when the multinational force will leave Iraq but local security forces there have increased their capability. Ireland is a substantial distance from Iraq but we have been part of the EU effort to try to assist the Iraqis' capacity to rebuild their judicial and security systems. Last year, a significant number of Iraqi officials who have been involved in rebuilding prisons were here to liaise with our own Prison Service, at the latter's invitation, under the umbrella of EU assistance to Iraq.

Deputy Higgins raised the question of regional stability and there are significant issues in that regard, not least the interaction by the Turks in northern Iraq. While Turkey has a right to defend its own people from cross-border attacks, we must exhort any country to use military action only as a last resort.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I wish to ask three short questions. First, is it correct that in recent days young women with an intellectual disability, Down's syndrome, were used in suicide bomb attacks in Iraq? I do not like using the term "suicide bomb attacks" in this context because they were used to blow up citizens in the middle of a market. Is this information correct?

My second question concerns our foreign policy over the years. Has the Minister told the British and US governments about Ireland's opposition to the war in Iraq, both at regular EU meetings and other international fora?

Third, the vast majority of people now accept that the Iraq war was illegal but, more importantly, events in recent weeks have shown that the vast majority of US citizens have adopted this position also. I ask the Minister to push that line at UN and EU levels.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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It is the case that on Friday, 1 February 2008, bombs carried by two women exploded in markets in different areas of Baghdad, killing over 100 people and wounding 200 others. Apparently, these bombs were detonated by remote control, which is probably one of the most dastardly operations that has ever been carried out in my memory. We roundly condemn these bombings.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Did they have an intellectual disability?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, they had a disability. It shows the lengths to which these people will go to try to disrupt what is a very slow peace process. Ireland's view has been made clear for many years. The issue now is to give, as soon as possible, the democratically elected Iraqi Government and the Iraqi people an opportunity to be the authors of their own destiny. Given the fact that they have continued to request the presence of a multinational force at least up to the end of 2008, as per the unanimous UN resolution, we should abide by that.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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In the course of his discussions with EU colleagues, has the Minister noted any concern at the manner in which they were conned by the falsification of evidence on weapons of mass destruction? What are the implications for their parliamentary systems, including their accountability committees, given that they were lied to? What is the Minister's view of the general damage done to the international parliamentary process, including within the European Union, by the tissue of deceit that was used to initiate a war that has caused 90,000 civilian casualties? Is it not an appropriate topic for moral reflection by those who went along with it?

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I was going to ask the Minister if it is confusing to be in Government when Members of this House who vote for him actually oppose his policies. Unfortunately, however, Deputy Finian McGrath has left the Chamber.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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What happened over the years in Iraq is a cause for reflection. However, there is now a possibility that the democratically elected government of the Iraqi people is in a position to move out of what has been a terrible period in that country's history. Of course, we should look back to see how things could perhaps have been done better. While there has been significant turmoil in relationships between the US and other parts of the world, there is now a common threat to developing and developed countries given the incredible depths to which terrorists will go to disrupt peace efforts. That is a far bigger threat to any of us who believe in democracy. That is why it is important for all nations of goodwill to work together, within the restrictions of international humanitarian law, to ensure that these people do not have the ability to carry out such dastardly deeds such as those committed in Baghdad on 1 February.