Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status, terms and conditions of the appointment of the envoy (details supplied) to the tsunami region; the rank in terms of the foreign service which applies; and the remuneration or expenses which attach to the post. [4191/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Mr. Chris Flood, former Member of Dáil Éireann and current chairman of the advisory board for Development Co-operation Ireland, has been appointed as an envoy to the tsunami-affected region, particularly Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. This appointment was announced in the Dáil on 26 January by my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern. The period of the appointment is six months from February.

Mr. Flood will report on the status of the recovery effort in each of the affected countries. He will also report on the overall contributions of the UN agencies and non-governmental organisations to the post-tsunami recovery efforts. He will examine to what extent funds have been used effectively and efficiently by organisations benefiting from Government assistance with a particular focus on co-ordination, building local capacity and rebuilding people's livelihoods. He will also seek to determine whether lessons can be learned in responding to future disasters. Mr. Flood will be assisted by the emergency, recovery and technical sections of Development Co-operation Ireland.

The position of the envoy does not have a rank within the diplomatic service. Normal travel and subsistence expenses only will apply.