Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in regard to the public statement issued on 30 July 2006 regarding the heavy loss of life arising from an Israeli air strike on the Lebanese village of Qana, he took the opportunity to convey these views personally to the Israeli or US authorities; the reply received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28370/06]

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in regard to the public statement issued on 30 July 2006 regarding the heavy loss of life arising from an Israeli air strike on the Lebanese village of Qana, he took the opportunity to convey these views personally to the Israeli or US authorities; the reply he received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34492/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 126 together.

The Taoiseach stated on 30 July that he was shocked and appalled at the heavy loss of life in the Israeli airstrike on the village of Qana. He noted that this terrible event served to underline the Government's clear message that an immediate ceasefire was urgently needed in Lebanon and that military actions only made a solution more difficult. The loss of innocent lives in Qana was also deplored by the UN Security Council on 30 July, and condemned across the world.

From the beginning of the conflict in Lebanon, which erupted following an unprovoked attack by Hizbollah on 12 July, the Government called unambiguously for an immediate cessation of violence and the protection of civilian lives. Throughout the conflict we fully acknowledged that Israel had a right to defend itself against attack, but not at the expense of the rights, and the lives, of Lebanese civilians. Our 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, and at the widespread destruction of vital civilian infrastructure.

We raised our concerns directly with the Israeli authorities throughout the conflict, and used every opportunity to influence the parties most directly involved. On 26 July, with my colleague the Minister for 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 Khiam in Southern Lebanon. We also worked consistently with our partners in the EU and at the UN to achieve a ceasefire.

I represented the Government's views strongly at two emergency meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council during August. Ireland's contribution helped to ensure that the EU, at our meeting on 1 August, issued an unequivocal call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

The Government is strongly committed to assisting the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was adopted unanimously on 11 August, and which provided the basis on which the fighting was brought to a halt. It offers a path to a stable peace based on the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon. The ceasefire is holding well and the EU has taken the lead in the deployment of the strengthened UNIFIL force in Southern Lebanon alongside units of the Lebanese Army, which has enabled the withdrawal of the Israeli Army from the area.

As Deputies will be aware, following the decision of the Government and the approval of the Dail on 11 October, Ireland will contribute a contingent of 150 members of the Defence Forces to serve with UNIFIL, as part of a joint Finnish-Irish unit. Deployment will take place at the end of this month. The unit will carry out tasks in support of UNIFIL, and also humanitarian work, especially in relation to the clearance of unexploded ordnance.

The Government remains seriously concerned at the terrible risk posed to the civilian population in Southern Lebanon by the large number of unexploded cluster munitions. We have supported the UN in its criticism of the Israeli Army in this regard. Ireland is also one of a small group of States which is active internationally, in the context of the Review Conference of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, in calling for agreement on the opening of negotiations for a legally binding international instrument to address the humanitarian concerns posed by cluster munitions.

The events of this summer underlined that there can be no unilateral or military solution to the interrelated problems of the Middle East. 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 in the region. The EU will continue to give every possible support to the democratically-elected Government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. The Government will ensure that Ireland also continues to respond 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.