Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Norris for raising this disturbing case on the Adjournment. I share his horror about the horrific effects of lead poisoning, especially on children, which I witnessed.

As the Senator may be aware, the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in the former Yugoslavia had a total population of approximately 8,000. Following the outbreak of conflict in the early 1990s, the Roma Mahala community was forced to flee from its traditional home of the same name in southern Kosovo. Some went to camps in northern Kosovo, while others were displaced to Serbia, Montenegro and western Europe. Since then, international efforts to return minority groups to their place of origin have continued. In particular, efforts to facilitate the return home of the Roma Mahala intensified after the end of the conflict in Kosovo in 1999.

The Government is acutely aware of the plight of the Roma Mahala and has supported a broad range of projects targeted at helping them. For the period 2005 to 2009, Irish Aid, the section of the Department of Foreign Affairs for which I have responsibility, has allocated €850,000 towards development work with the Roma Mahala and a further €200,000 has been provided for the World Bank's Roma Education Fund, which has benefited the Roma community in 11 countries in central and eastern Europe, including Kosovo.

The Government was one of the first donors to the initial phase of the Return to Roma Mahala project, which successfully resettled 90 Roma families in their places of origin. Between 2005 and 2006, €250,000 was provided to the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, to support the return of displaced refugees to Roma Mahala.

For the period 2008 to 2009, more than €600,000 has been committed to the Danish Refugee Council for a project aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities to build sustainable livelihoods and to support their economic and social integration into Kosovo society. However, as Senator Norris correctly pointed out, many problems remain.

My colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, and I are deeply concerned about the current position of members of the Roma Mahala community who are living in camps in northern Mitrovica in Kosovo. I am aware of reports that residents of those camps, especially young children who are highly vulnerable to lead intoxication, are exposed to high levels of lead contamination from disused mines in the area. Senator Norris clearly and eloquently pointed that out.

In response to information received on the issue in late July, the Minister asked officials in our embassy in Athens, accredited to Kosovo at that time, to raise our serious concern with UNMIK. They were advised that UNMIK's Office of Communities, Returns and Minorities Affairs is supporting the Kosovar Ministry of Communities and Returns as it assumes responsibility for the management of the camps. The Ministry is working closely with all stakeholders to pursue permanent housing solutions for all Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian internally displaced persons, IDPs, in the region. That includes resettlement of the remaining IDPs who are residing in the areas subject to lead contamination.

At the request of the Minister, Deputy Martin, concerns on the matter were also raised later in the summer with the International Civilian Office, ICO, in Kosovo and with the head of UNMIK, Mr. Lamberto Zannier. The Minister has instructed officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs to continue monitoring developments and to ensure that our EU and international partners remain fully seized of Ireland's concerns. Officials of the Department met recently with Mr. Paul Polansky, an expert on the living conditions of Roma people residing in the camps, for an update on the matter.

At a European Union meeting on the western Balkans held in Brussels on Wednesday, 19 November, the Irish representative raised the issue with the Presidency and the Commission. Furthermore, the Irish delegate to the meeting of the International Steering Group on Kosovo, which took place in Brussels on Friday last, raised the issue of IDPs, with particular reference to the plight of the Roma community residing in northern Mitrovica. The Department is also monitoring progress on this question through liaison with NGOs working in the area.

The process of state building continues in Kosovo and its institutional framework is being established. Our embassy in Budapest, which is now accredited to Kosovo, will continue to monitor the situation through the relevant authorities and international supervisory institutions.

This is a matter of great concern to me and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. We will continue to impress upon all parties concerned the need to work together for an urgent and sustainable solution to this serious problem. I assure Senator Norris every opportunity will be taken to encourage the responsible agencies of the UN and the EU to help find such a solution and take forward the safe and secure resettlement of the Roma people.