Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the work being undertaken by the Government to assist in the humanitarian operation in Asia, following the December 2004 tsunami; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7594/05]

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to increase the level of aid given in response to the December 2004 Asia tsunami; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7647/05]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding Irish involvement in the ongoing relief effort following the tsunami disaster in south Asia, particularly in regard to the work of Irish aid agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7711/05]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of funding forwarded to tsunami relief; and when further funding will be given. [7670/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the areas in which Irish donated funding has been spent following the south east Asia disaster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7999/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of international aid already spent and the locations following the tsunami disaster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8000/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he has monitored the delivery of funds to the required areas following the tsunami disaster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8001/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 151, 162, 254 and 259 to 261, inclusive, together.

The Government responded immediately in the aftermath of the terrible earthquake and tsunami disaster which struck south Asia and east Africa on 26 December last. On that day the Government pledged €1 million in immediate assistance. As the true scale of the disaster became clear, Ireland made further financial commitments. A total of €20 million has been committed to respond to the needs of those affected by the tsunami.

I believe that the response by Ireland in committing this level of funding is appropriate to the situation and well in line with the other largest donors globally. There has been an unprecedented international response to the tsunami disaster. Current estimates on international pledges stand at over €4.5 billion. The UN flash appeal is almost fully subscribed, a most unusual event so soon after its launch.

The key challenges for the international donor community, affected country governments and aid agencies are to ensure that pledges are honoured and that the available recovery and reconstruction funds are used to best effect. This will be a complex operation given the scale of the damage, the size of the response and the multiplicity of donors and agencies. Strong co-ordination, transparency and accountability are the keys to a successful outcome.

Government funding of €9.5 million has already been allocated and is currently being provided to a broad range of NGOs, UN agencies and other international organisations, with a proven capacity to respond well under difficult circumstances. Assistance is being provided to the NGOs Christian Aid Ireland, Christian Children's Fund Ireland, Concern, GOAL, Trócaire, Oxfam Ireland, Plan Ireland and World Vision Ireland. In addition, funding has been provided to the UN — UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNICEF, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, World Health Organisation and the World Food Programme, the International Red Cross and the International Organisation for Migration.

Areas of concentration for Irish funded agencies include shelter, livelihood restoration and water and sanitation system repair. This assistance is focused primarily on India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, the countries most directly affected. Ireland's assistance has also been delivered regionally through the UN system and the Red Cross family, for example, to Burma via the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Ireland has also been instrumental in developing EU policy in response to the tsunami. Two General Affairs and External Relations Councils, GAERC, have addressed the Union's response to the tsunami. At the extraordinary Council on the tsunami on 7 January, the Council stressed, at Ireland's instigation, the importance of ensuring that the resources released in the context of recent events be additional to existing development commitments. At the Council on 31 January, an action plan was adopted by EU Foreign Ministers. Ireland helped to shape this action plan, which will improve the EU's response to the tsunami and provide the basis for improvements in response to similar catastrophes in the future.

At a meeting of EU Development Ministers in Luxembourg on 14/15 February, we discussed follow-up actions on the tsunami, including evaluation. We also reaffirmed the key role to be played by the United Nations and the affected countries during the recovery phase, which we have now entered.

Former Minister of State, Mr. Chris Flood, who was appointed by the Government as envoy to the affected region, has returned from a visit to Sri Lanka and Indonesia. During his visit, he had discussions with representatives of the affected governments, non-governmental organisations, the UN and other aid agencies and individuals directly affected by the tsunami. The envoy's report, and that of the technical team from my Department, will continue to inform our approach to the post-tsunami recovery and reconstruction.

Our aim is to ensure that Government funds are expended to best effect and to contribute as proactively as possible to the ongoing dialogue and consultations surrounding the international and national aid efforts. It is clear that it will take years for the affected countries to fully recover from the effects of the tsunami. The Government will continue to provide support to these countries in the period ahead.