Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senators who tabled the motion which the Government is happy to support. I thank the speakers for their contributions. It is interesting that the Seanad, for the second week in a row, is discussing issues pertaining to that part of the world. That is as it should be. The Government and both Houses of the Oireachtas look forward to a peaceful resolution of the intractable issues in Iraq and in the Israeli and Palestinian conflict. They have complicated roots which long predate the current crisis of violence and instability.

The spiral of violence which has overtaken many areas of Iraq has inflicted great suffering on many people, including some families that have Irish roots. The Dáil and the Seanad discussed the issues pertaining to the Irish families last week. Senators will understand if I do not go into that aspect further, given its current sensitivity particularly with regard to Mrs. Margaret Hassan. We are still in contact with the family in that respect.

The Iraqi people are the primary victims of the conflict. It is they who are suffering most, including from the interruption of basic services. This was illustrated by previous speakers, particularly by Senator Kitt who visited Iraq just before the war. The European Union's objective on Iraq is clear. Senator Dardis referred to the meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council which I attended and at which I had an opportunity to speak on these issues. The Council was resolved to put forward a strong proposal. We want to see the development of a secure, stable and democratic Iraq, able to play a positive role in the region.

The immediate problem in Iraq is violence, which exacerbates the challenge of building a democratic political structure in a country which has never known one, and where two of the three communities making up the country have been hitherto systematically excluded from participation in power. The starting point for our actions in Iraq is, and must be, UN Security Council Resolution 1546 of 8 June, which provides for the transfer of power to the interim Iraqi Government on 28 June. The multinational force, MNF, in Iraq now operates under the authority of Resolution 1546 and at the invitation of the interim Iraqi Government.

The EU will have an opportunity to review the situation when the members of the European Council meet with Prime Minister Allawi on 4 November. That will give us a chance to hear from him what his Government's needs are and to discuss how best we can help. The multinational force in Iraq has prime responsibility to assist the Iraqi Government in the security area. The MNF includes a number of EU member states but the EU, as a Union, is not involved. Ireland does not, at this stage, envisage becoming involved in the provision of any form of security assistance in Iraq.

The treatment of prisoners in Iraq is and has been a matter of serious concern. The Government voiced its concern and displeasure at the revelations earlier this year about abuse of Iraqi prisoners in coalition custody. We did so together with our EU and Arab partners in the EuroMediterranean ministerial meeting in Dublin and in our bilateral contacts with the occupying powers.

One important area where the EU can be helpful is in the preparation for the Iraqi elections, scheduled for January 2005. Senator Bradford referred to this aspect. Only elections can give the Iraqi Government the enhanced authority and legitimacy it needs to pull its country together and rebuild its future. However, we need to be frank — the holding of elections against the background of the current security situation will not be an easy task. The Iraqi Government also faces a daunting task in trying to create a functioning civil society and political system. This will be a long-term task and much of it cannot even begin until security has been restored. One of the issues I discussed with Kofi Annan when he visited Ireland recently was the prospect of UN personnel returning to Iraq in substantial numbers, given what happened to some of them there some time ago.

The EU has sent two exploratory missions to Iraq to examine how we can best assist. One critical area identified is supporting the establishment of a responsible criminal justice system in Iraq. This could help convey to the Iraqi people that the justice system now belongs to them. The specific aim will be to help Iraqis to re-establish and reform their own system, not to impose an alien one from outside. In this regard, the field of policing and the rule of law was identified as an area in which possible EU assistance could be most effective in the first instance. The Presidency has now put forward a proposal for a package of measures in support of the interim Iraqi Government and Iraqi reconstruction. The proposal has just been received and, quite frankly, it is too early to give a considered response.

However, I will give Senators a flavour of what is in the proposal. It has only just been received and we are currently examining it, as are our partners. The measures include elements relating to political support for the Iraqi Government, such as EU backing for the proposed regional conference on Iraq to be held in Egypt in late November. They include EU support for the role of the UN in Iraq, something we discussed at our meeting with Kofi Annan, including financial support for the proposed UN protection force. Again, I refer to the discussions I had with Kofi Annan in that respect. As we spoke, the attacks on the green zone made it even more difficult for the implementation of the UN protection force. Ireland intends to make a financial contribution to the EU financial support for the proposed UN protection force. The Presidency package would include EU assistance both from the Community budget and from individual member states for the preparation of Iraqi elections. Finally, the Presidency has put forward possible elements for an EU action in the field of policing and the rule of law to help the development of the Iraqi criminal justice system.

Turning to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the only way a peaceful solution can only be attained is through negotiation. We know that from our experience on this island. Any such solution must satisfy the legitimate aspirations of both sides. We have availed of every opportunity, both as a member of the UN Security Council and during our recent Presidency of the EU, to advance international efforts to achieve a two state solution, with each country living at peace within secure and recognised borders. Previous speakers, particularly Senator Lydon, referred to the difficulty for ordinary Palestinians going about their business as a result of the type of security measures that are being put in place. We got a flavour of these from the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Mr. Shaath, whom I met earlier this week.

The road map provides the opportunity and the framework within which to achieve a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Regrettably, it is clear that neither side has to date acted to fulfil its commitments under the road map. We discussed this with Mr. Shaath when he was here. Our priority must be to get the peace process back on track. The essentials are an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and a return to the negotiating table. There is, and can be, no military solution, just as there is no substitute for political negotiations between the two sides.

I have repeatedly expressed the Government's great concern about the deaths and injuries caused by the violence in Gaza and southern Israel. As Ireland nationally has done, the EU has also strongly condemned the disproportionate nature of the Israeli military engagement. We have repeatedly called on the Israeli authorities to take every precaution to avoid causing civilian casualties and to conduct operations in full conformity with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention. Above all, I am disturbed and concerned by the civilian casualties on the Palestinian side, including the many children killed or wounded. I also unequivocally condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian groups which have resulted in the deaths of Israelis, including children. Suicide bombings and other acts of terrorism advance no legitimate agenda and can only damage the interests of the Palestinian people.

We in Ireland know only too well that violence is pointless. We see again and again in the Middle East that violence achieves nothing. As a result, Israel is no closer to the goal of real security and Palestine is no closer to its long-cherished goal of independence. I took the opportunity to emphasise all of these points when I met last week with Dr. Nabil Shaath, the Palestinian Foreign Minister.

The road map provides the way forward and addresses the issues of concern to both sides. It calls, for example, on the Palestinian side to embrace internal reform and to take firm action against terrorism. It also calls upon Israel to freeze settlement activity and to take steps to ease the humanitarian and economic plight of the Palestinian people.

This week, the Israeli Parliament voted in favour of its Government's proposal for disengagement from Gaza and from a small number of settlements in the West Bank. There is, nonetheless, strong resistance within Israel. The European Union, for its part, has set out five elements which it considers essential if it is to endorse the withdrawal process. In particular, in our strongly held view, withdrawal must take place in the context of the road map and must be a step towards a two-state solution.

I refer finally to the separation barrier in the West Bank, to which previous speakers referred. I acknowledge and uphold the right and responsibility of any government, in this case, the Israeli Government, to protect its people, including, if it so wishes, by a security fence. However, the fence must not be on occupied territory and must not create facts on the ground. This, I emphasise, is also the position of the European Union and the International Court of Justice.

The motion before the Seanad has provided me with a welcome opportunity to inform Senators of the Government's position in regard to two areas of great concern to all of us: Iraq and the Arab-Israeli conflict. While they are two quite different issues, each has the capacity, especially the Palestinian conflict, to impact negatively on the other. This is why, in the case of Palestine, all of us need to seize every opportunity to drive forward the solution to this distressing and destabilising situation, namely, the road map. Following the presidential election in the US, a renewed and critical opportunity may well exist for us to do so. We must seize it quickly and effectively. Accordingly, I am happy to support the motion.