Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 108: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of humanitarian aid allocated to the Palestinian Authority in 2005; the current levels of aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19558/06]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The core objective of Ireland's assistance to Palestine has been to alleviate the material consequences of the ongoing conflict by enhancing the capacity of Ireland's partners in Palestine to respond to the crisis and to begin, where possible, to meet the future development needs of the Palestinian people.

In 2005, Ireland delivered in excess of €4 million in humanitarian and development assistance to Palestine. Humanitarian assistance has been channelled through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which remains our key partner in the provision of basic services to the Palestinian people. In response to UNRWA's appeal for funding, Ireland provided early funding of €1.5 million to UNRWA in 2006. This was un-earmarked core funding which allows UNRWA to respond flexibly to the emerging challenges. Ireland will continue to respond to changing humanitarian needs in Palestine.

Our development funding has been focused on support for basic education, strengthening local government through local rural development programmes, and support for key United Nations' agencies. We also provide significant support for civil society organisations in Palestine which work to promote human rights and democratisation and to facilitate community rehabilitation.

The Government is extremely conscious of the need to continue assistance to Palestine in the current difficult political climate. Ireland's programme of assistance in 2006 will include continued support for partner UN Agencies, NGOs and Bethlehem University. We have made clear that we are determined to maintain the overall volume of our assistance to Palestine.

We do not believe that the Palestinian people should face the risk of a humanitarian crisis because of the reluctance of their new Government to respect the peace process. However, there is agreement among all the Member States that the EU cannot maintain its capacity-building support for the Hamas Government under the Oslo process, given that the Government has not committed to the conditions set out by the Quartet and the EU.

Following the meeting of the Quartet on 9 May, the EU is taking the lead in developing a temporary international mechanism to channel donor assistance directly to the Palestinian people. At its meeting on 15 May, the Council agreed that, as a matter of priority, the mechanism will aim to provide for basic needs, including health services. Ireland has been to the fore in the EU in arguing for the widest possible definition of the basic needs to be covered.

I can assure the Deputy that Ireland will, both nationally and in the multilateral framework, do all that is within our capacity to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people and to pursue our development interventions to the extent possible, while being cognisant of the wider political realities.