Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the outcome of the recent elections in Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2786/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The elections held in Iraq on Sunday, 30 January, marked a critical step in the process for the political reconstruction of Iraq laid down in UN Security Council Resolution 1546 of June 2004. It is not likely that we will have indications of the outcome of the election for some days yet, and official results may take about a week. Early indications of turnout, which are provisional, suggest that a little over 60% of the Iraqi electorate voted, which is a very respectable figure, especially in the circumstances.

That the elections could be held at all in the conditions pertaining in Iraq is a remarkable achievement on the part of the Iraqi people. Violent attacks and intimidation have been directed at election organisers and officials, at polling places, at candidates and at ordinary voters to try to prevent or disrupt these elections. I commend all those Iraqis — officials, police and voters — who refused to bow to this intimidation and exercised their right to elect representatives of their choice.

Whatever differences there may have been regarding the invasion of Iraq, when we see old people taking part in the first real elections in their lives and lines of ordinary people braving car bombs and suicide bombers — literally risking their lives to vote — it is clear to everyone in this House where we must stand.

The elections were not, nor could they have been, perfect. There is no doubt that participation in the Sunni community was very much lower than the overall turnout rate, although there are some reports that it was higher than anticipated.

The new transitional national assembly will be charged with electing a transitional government and with drawing up the new constitution of Iraq. It is clear that the Sunni community will have to be involved in these processes.

The European Union, along with the UN and others, provided substantial assistance to the Iraqi authorities in preparing these elections. The Council on Monday welcomed the elections and pledged the continuing support of the EU for the reconstruction process in Iraq. The next steps will be for Iraqis to take. When the election results and the political implications become clearer, we will consider how best we can help them in taking those steps.