Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on President Bush's recent State of the Union address; his views on the US administration's plans to send a further 20,000 troops into Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4316/07]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had discussions with his European counterparts regarding the political and security situation in Iraq in the wake of Saddam Hussein's execution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3927/07]

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the political and security situation in Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3935/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 96 and 110 together.

The Government shares the widespread concern at the deterioration of the situation in Iraq. Developments have been dominated by the appalling security situation, with daily bomb attacks aimed specifically at the civilian population and a continuing spiral of vicious sectarian violence. The violence is effectively blocking the political and reconstruction efforts of Iraq's first fully sovereign and democratic Government and Parliament.

The main concern of the Government and our EU partners is obviously for the welfare of the Iraqi people, as they attempt to rebuild their country after years of dictatorship and war. The EU has provided over €700 million in assistance for reconstruction since 2003. Last month, the Government announced a pledge of a further €3 million in assistance for the victims of the current violence, in particular the large numbers of families who have been forced to flee their homes. This represents a substantial increase on the €7.9 million already provided by the Government for humanitarian assistance in Iraq.

Regrettably, there is no evidence that the insurgency and the inter-communal violence are being brought under control. The situation in Baghdad is particularly grave. According to the United Nations, almost 5,000 people lost their lives in the city in the last two months of 2006. Last weekend, almost 130 people were killed in a single bomb attack at a market in a mainly Shia area of Baghdad.

The execution of Saddam Hussein and a number of his associates has done nothing to stabilise the situation. I strongly condemned both the fact and the manner of the executions, in line with the firm opposition of all EU Member States to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances. I also stated clearly that, in the interests of justice and reconciliation in Iraq, the Iraqi Government should now take the step of ending executions.

It would clearly be inappropriate for me to comment in this House on the State of the Union address by President Bush to the U.S. Congress, most of which related to the domestic political situation. Deputies will be fully aware of the President's proposals to strengthen security in Iraq, and of the political controversy which they have engendered in the United States. During my discussions in the Middle East last week, Arab political leaders emphasised that they fully supported the objectives of the US initiative. It is in the interests of all parties that every effort be made by the international community, in cooperation with the Iraqi authorities, to improve the security situation in Iraq, as an essential step in stabilising the country and rebuilding its place in the region.

The Government continues to believe that a secure and peaceful Iraq can only be assured through the maintenance of its territorial integrity, the development of shared political and other institutions and the consolidation of strong political and economic links with all the countries of the neighbouring region.