Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the political and security situation in Liberia; the level of aid given by Ireland to Liberia for 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2647/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the comprehensive peace agreement of August 2003, Liberia is currently administered by a transitional government under the chairmanship of Mr. Gyude Bryant until parliamentary and presidential elections are held before the end of 2005. The elections are scheduled for October and voter registration is due to start in April. The cost of the elections is expected to amount to $17.5 million. This election will mark the return of Liberia to a constitutional democracy after 14 years of civil war.

Despite recent improvements in the security situation in UN-controlled areas and progress in the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement, the peace process remains fragile and many serious issues remain to be effectively addressed. The situation is generally stable in Monrovia but less so in other areas. Sporadic outbreaks of fighting in rebel strongholds highlight the need for a comprehensive process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration. The fragility of peace in Liberia became apparent at the end of October 2004 when a weekend of violence shook Monrovia in which 16 people were killed. Last week there were reports of some disturbances in the south-eastern part of the country, which it is thought may have links to rumoured ritual killings in the area. Extra UNMIL troops were deployed to the region and the situation was described as calm but tense. There were also riots last week in the north of Liberia following a protest by ex-combatants at the United Nations' failure to pay the second half of their $300 resettlement allowance.

The UNMIL programme of disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration, DDRR, for rebel groups recommenced on 15 April 2004. Disarmament and demobilisation was concluded on 31 October. All the armed groups have signed a paper accepting the end of armed conflict and agreeing to disband. According to the UN, almost 103,000 former combatants have been disarmed and 27,000 rifles, over 7 million rounds of ammunition and 29,830 rounds of heavy ammunition recovered. Due to the fact that the number of combatants disarmed greatly exceeded original estimates, the DDRR programme has encountered significant financial problems. Last December, the UN Secretary General appealed urgently for an additional $60 million to address the remaining funding shortfalls. Ireland contributed €500,000 in 2004 to support the DDRR process.

The United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, was established on 19 September 2003 by UN Security Council Resolution 1509. The primary task of UNMIL is to observe and monitor implementation of the ceasefire agreement which was concluded by the Liberian parties in June 2003. More broadly, UNMIL's role is to support the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement of 18 August 2003. The Irish contingent comprises a motorised infantry battalion of some 430 personnel along with a small number of additional personnel deployed at force headquarters and as military observers. The Government is of the view that the deployment of UNMIL is critically important in supporting the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement and for the political and economic recovery of Liberia. Our personnel have been widely commended for the professionalism of their work.

President McAleese, accompanied by the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, visited Liberia on 14 December 2004 and met with Chairman Bryant, United Nations Special Representative in Liberia, Mr. Jacques Klein, and the Irish battalion. Chairman Bryant visited Ireland in November and expressed his gratitude for the invaluable role that Ireland has played in Liberia.

In December 2004 the United Nations Security Council renewed its trade sanctions against Liberia, extending bans on timber exports until after the 2005 elections and also arms exports to the country for another year. The ban on diamond exports will also continue for another six months. The sanctions were originally imposed to stop ex-President Charles Taylor from using foreign earnings to fuel conflict in Liberia and the region in general. The sanctions may be reviewed on a six monthly basis. The European Union also renewed Article 96 measures against Liberia in December in line with the UN Security Council sanctions, as it was agreed that Liberia had not made enough progress in areas such as human rights, governance and the judicial system to warrant an easing of sanctions at this time.

At the Liberia reconstruction conference in New York on 5-6 February 2004, Ireland announced bilateral assistance of €5 million over two years. In 2004, over €2 million of this pledge was disbursed. The remainder of the pledge — €3 million — is due to be disbursed in 2005.

Ireland will open a new Development Co-operation Ireland office in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in early 2005 to oversee programmes in Sierra Leone and Liberia. This will involve having a small technical presence on the ground. Development Co-operation Ireland's medium-term strategy in Liberia will continue to focus on humanitarian needs and on the rehabilitation of key sectors such as education and health. Liberia's urgent humanitarian requirements need to be addressed in tandem with the recovery, reconstruction and development needs identified in both the results focused transition framework, RFTF, and the humanitarian appeal for 2005. DCI believes that the reintegration needs are huge not only for ex-combatants but also for refugees, IDPs and the communities to which they are returning. The new DCI office in Freetown will design a framework to facilitate the disbursement of the remainder of Ireland's pledge for Liberia.

Ireland will continue to encourage all parties in and around Liberia to carry out their commitments and obligations under the comprehensive peace agreement. We will lend active support to the work of the United Nations Special Representative in Liberia, Jacques Klein, and to the EU Special Representative for the region, Mr. Hans Dahlgren of Sweden.