Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 175: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to propose any initiatives at EU level with a view to creating a contingency force or body with the capability of a rapid response to issues such as the natural disaster in south east Asia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1530/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, on Monday, 31 January, discussed the issue of enhancing the EU's capacity to respond to emergency situations such as the Asian tsunami, including through rapid response civilian capabilities.

The EU already has a number of mechanisms at its disposal in the civil protection and civilian crisis management arena to respond to both natural disasters and conflict and post-conflict situations. These include the Community mechanism for civil protection, which was activated in response to the tsunami and through which member states contributed resources in areas such as water purification, forensic capabilities and field hospitals, and civilian capabilities committed by member states under the European security and defence policy, ESDP.

Monday's GAERC adopted a wide ranging action plan on post-tsunami response which included a commitment to rapidly examine how these mechanisms might be improved and whether new structures are required to ensure that the EU is capable of mounting an effective civilian response to similar disasters. I stressed at the GAERC that, whether this is done through enhancing existing instruments or by creating new structures, the challenge is to ensure that the product of our work over the coming months is a flexible and effective EU capability which can deploy rapidly in situations of immediate need. I also reiterated Ireland's ongoing commitment to developing the EU's civilian crisis management capabilities.

I also intend to explore with my Government colleagues possible means by which Ireland might increase its capabilities for assisting in humanitarian crises.