Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 894: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Israel had devised a plan for attacking Hizbollah which they shared with US authorities before the 12 July 2006 kidnappings in Lebanon; and the details of Ireland's position during the conflict. [28348/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has no information on the planning which preceded the Israeli military action in Lebanon, and I do not intend to speculate on the matter. Deputies will be aware that the immediate cause of the conflict was an unprovoked attack by Hizbollah on Israeli territory on 12 July, and the killing and capture of a number of Israeli soldiers. From the beginning, the Government called unambiguously for an immediate cessation of violence and the protection of civilian lives. I fully acknowledged that Israel had a right to defend itself against attacks such as those launched by Hizbollah, but not at the expense of the rights, and the lives, of Lebanese civilians. The Government's principal concern was with the effect of military actions on civilians, Israeli and Lebanese. We were shocked at the high level of casualties among Lebanese civilians, unconnected with any attacks against Israel, and at the widespread destruction of vital civilian infrastructure. We worked directly with the parties and with our partners in the EU and at the UN to achieve a ceasefire. We availed of every opportunity to influence those most directly involved. On 26 July, with my colleague the Minister of Defence, I called in the Ambassador of Israel to emphasise the strength of the Government's position following the deaths of four unarmed UN peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon.

I represented the Government's views strongly at two emergency meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council during August. Ireland contributed to ensuring that the EU at our meeting on 1 August issued an unequivocal call for an immediate cessation of hostilities. I warmly welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 on 11 August. It created the basis on which the fighting was finally brought to a halt and it offers a path to a stable peace based on the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon. Good progress is being made in its implementation. The deployment of a strengthened UNIFIL force in Southern Lebanon, alongside units of the Lebanese Army, has ensured that the ceasefire has been maintained and that thousands of Lebanese citizens can return to their homes. Further peacekeeping forces will arrive in Lebanon over the coming months. The Government will shortly be in a position to make a decision on an Irish contribution to UNIFIL II.

With our partners in the EU, we will remain engaged in support of the reconstruction of Lebanon, and of a plan for a comprehensive settlement of the inter-related problems of the region. The Government has also responded rapidly and effectively to the humanitarian needs of the Lebanese people. During the crisis, we committed a total of €2 million in immediate emergency humanitarian assistance to Lebanon and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We have also pledged a further €2 million for longer term reconstruction and assistance over the coming two years, in addition to the programmed bilateral assistance of over €4 million to Palestine in 2006.