Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if members of the US Marines (details supplied) had passed through Shannon Airport on their journey to or from Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22043/06]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had contact with his United States counterpart or other US authorities regarding the massacre of civilians in Haditha, Iraq on 19 November 2005; if so, if he will report on the context and outcome of that contact; if he has asked for or received information regarding whether the Marines involved had passed through Shannon Airport on their journey to or from Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22045/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 125 together.

I share the serious concern which has been widely expressed about the allegations regarding events in Haditha in November 2005 which resulted in the deaths of Iraqi civilians. In its discussions with the US administration on the situation in Iraq, the Government has always made the point very clearly that the use of force in civilian areas should be kept to a minimum, and that every possible effort must be made to avoid civilian casualties.

It is essential that allegations of this kind be investigated fully and transparently, and that appropriate action is taken in response to the findings which emerge. I understand that the US military investigation into the events in Haditha is nearing completion and that the results will be made public. The Government welcomes the public assurance given last week by President Bush that any violation of the law by members of the US forces in Haditha will be punished.

In relation to the transport of US troops to and from Iraq, the Government does not hold records of individual military units which pass through Shannon Airport. The international forces serving in Iraq are operating under UN mandate, and at the request of the Iraqi Government. The presence of the Multinational Force was authorised by the UN Security Council under Resolution 1511 of October 2003, which also urged Member States to contribute assistance under the UN mandate. The mandate was reaffirmed in Resolution 1546 of June 2004 and was extended until the end of 2006 by Resolution 1637, which was adopted unanimously by the Security Council in November 2005.

More broadly, the Government and our partners in the EU remain very concerned at the rising level of violence in Iraq, which continues to claim the lives of large number of Iraqi civilians. The approval of a national unity Government by the Iraqi Parliament on 20 May was a welcome and significant step. Iraq now has a fully sovereign and democratic Government and Parliament, mandated for four years. However, Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and his colleagues face serious challenges as they work to achieve the conditions in which the Iraqi authorities can assume full responsibility for the security and well-being of the country and its people. The EU is determined to maintain its strong support for the Government's efforts.