Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Defence if any Defence Force assistance has been offered to Pakistan following the recent devastating earthquake in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31908/05]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Defence the resources he made available to the Governments of India and Pakistan following the 11 October 2005 earthquake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32005/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 53 together.

While primary responsibility in this area lies with my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, a request for assistance from Pakistan in the aftermath of the South Asia earthquake was received through the European Union Monitoring and Information Centre, MIC, in Brussels. Following consideration by the military it was decided to offer 5,000 meals ready to eat, MREs. However, some of the contents were not suitable for use in the region due to dietary restrictions associated with the religious beliefs of those affected by the disaster. The Defence Forces were not in a position to provide the other items requested such as helicopters or earth moving equipment while the tents in use by the Defence Forces were not suited to the weather conditions that prevail in the region. The Irish Government provided €3 million in humanitarian aid for the region through UNICEF, WHO, UN OCHA, IRC AND NGOs active in the region.

My colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, has just recently received two further appeals from the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs specifically in relation to shelter, aviation fuel and air traffic control personnel. This appeal specifically stated that non-winterised tents would be acceptable and on foot of this, the Defence Forces offered to provide tents and beds for 500 people. The Department of Foreign Affairs is currently awaiting a response from the UN office as to whether this offer has been accepted.