Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will speak to the issue in this section. This section looks to how funds may be utilised as they are received by the State in repayment, as outlined. In this Bill, a large amount of money is rightly directed towards supporting investment in and the reconstruction and re-establishment of Ukraine.It is appropriate that we would look at that wider context of the support that Ireland contributes, both individually and with others in the European Union, towards others who have been impacted and devastated by the impact of war, and not just reconstruction but, indeed, essential and basic relief works that are necessitated due to the widespread destruction of property and health and education infrastructure. These are the kinds of areas we are seeking to support through the funds itemised in this Bill. We know that right now in Gaza, however, there is a huge impact with regard to those structures associated with civilian, educational and health infrastructure and the basic food infrastructure. This is simply infrastructure associated with basic access to clean water or food.

The agency that is there and in a position to actually support the 1.5 million people currently displaced is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA. It is appalling that at a time when 1.5 million people are in extreme danger and when, in fact, the International Court of Justice specifically and explicitly stated that the restriction on access to humanitarian aid at this time is contributing to that risk of genocide, we see the potential withdrawing of funding to exactly that kind of humanitarian and human rights support that is essential to infrastructure that is so needed. It is absolutely contrary to the spirit of the ICJ ruling. It is contrary to what we know is necessary. We are in real danger, and real deep moral danger in terms of the European Union, if we do not see the delivery of funds. We heard that funds of $88 million are due at the end of the month. If that does not go through, we have had signals from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency that it may not be able to continue delivering essential supports to the 1.5 million people currently desperately dependent on them.

The Minister of State will be aware that Spain has signalled that it will provide additional funding at this crucial moment. Belgium has similarly indicated that it will be making its payments. It is very unfortunate to see that Enabel, the Belgian Development Agency, recently had its headquarters bombed in Gaza. While it is absolutely appropriate and right that there is investigation and serious action in respect of the allegations against 12 personnel of the 13,000 who are working in the area, of course, we should be remembering, recognising and honouring the 152 United Nations Relief and Works Agency staff who have been killed in the course of doing their essential humanitarian work. This is the opportunity, when we are rightly making decisions around a commitment and pledge that we will support those devastated by war to rebuild, for the Government to signal that Ireland is also committed to supporting and, indeed, increasing and strengthening its support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in support of another set of people - men, woman and children - who are similarly devastated by acts of war.