Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the work to date of the Government's special envoy for the tsunami. [13557/05]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of support being given by the Government to the countries affected by the December 2004 tsunami in Asia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13496/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 79 together.

Ireland was one of the first countries to respond to the tsunami disaster by pledging €1 million within the first few hours. This pledge was increased to €10 million when the scale of the disaster became clear. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, visited the affected region in early January. He travelled with the heads of Concern, GOAL, the Red Cross and Trócaire and pledged a further contribution, doubling Ireland's pledge to €20 million, in order to address recovery and reconstruction as well as immediate needs. This is the largest single pledge by Ireland in response to a humanitarian emergency.

To date, €11.3 million has been committed in response to meeting the immediate needs of people in the aftermath of the disaster. This funding has been provided to a range of non-governmental organisations, NGOs, including Concern, GOAL, Oxfam Ireland and Trócaire. Ireland has also assisted United Nations agencies and the Red Cross family. Much of Ireland's funding has focused on immediate response and relief activities, including the provision of food and essential non-food items, such as cooking utensils and shelter. Assistance has also been directed to basic health services, shelter and hygiene assistance.

The emergency phase of the tsunami relief operations has ended. The reconstruction planning and implementation tasks ahead are enormous. We are examining recovery and reconstruction plans, which will provide an opportunity to assist the affected populations in the rebuilding of their lives and livelihoods. Ireland will continue to support NGOs and UN agencies for their ongoing engagement in the affected region, including in particular the sectors recommended by the technical mission from my Department, which visited the region on a number of occasions. These sectors include support for housing and other infrastructure, livelihood regeneration — particularly fishing and tourism — and associated infrastructure and capacity building at local and national levels. Peace building initiatives will also be examined with a view to support.

It is essential that the international pledges are met and that the funds contributed are used in the most effective way possible. Transparency and accountability in the delivery of reconstruction assistance are key to a successful outcome. The European Union will have an important role to play in the reconstruction of the region. Ireland fully supports and was instrumental in shaping the EU action plan to improve its response to the tsunami and similar crises. In this context, we are examining the civil protection capacity of Ireland to respond to this and other future such disasters.

Deputies will be aware that a special envoy has been appointed for the tsunami affected region. The envoy, former Minister of State and current chairman of the advisory board for Development Co-operation Ireland, Mr. Chris Flood, has made two visits to the affected countries. He recently returned from a visit to Sri Lanka and Thailand. During his visit to Thailand, he laid a wreath at the memorial site for those who lost their lives in the tsunami. During his visits, the envoy met a wide range of organisations and individuals, including senior government representatives. He also met NGOs, UN agencies, representatives of local communities and local authorities. The envoy's mandate is to oversee the disbursement of Ireland's assistance and to ensure it is done in line with best international practice and meets the needs of the most affected.

Ireland remains closely engaged with ongoing developments on the aid effort in the tsunami affected countries. My officials are visiting the region on an ongoing basis, ensuring that effective monitoring of funding and project roll out is taking place. We are in constant liaison with all stakeholders including our partners in the NGOs, UN and international agencies. This engagement will need to be maintained into the medium term and we will do so.