Written answers

Thursday, 8 February 2007

Department of Foreign Affairs

Military Neutrality

5:00 pm

Photo of Dan BoyleDan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement following his 29 December 2006 interview (detail supplied) regarding what he has termed a third phase of Irish foreign policy based on active neutrality; the way this active neutrality will be implemented [4280/07]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In my interview with The Irish Times on 29 December last, I observed that Ireland's foreign policy is entering a new phase. This reflects the progress of Ireland's development, from the initial stages as a newly independent nation where our foreign policy focused on securing international recognition, through the more recent years where we have focused on securing peace and prosperity on the island.

We have achieved a number of key goals in the process. We have a strong and vibrant economy that is providing jobs not just for our people but for immigrants. We have a successful Northern Ireland peace process that has tackled a range of profound issues including questions of identity and rights, the development of North South bodies and reform of the justice and security sectors. We have integrated into the European Union while preserving our traditional values, not least our non-membership of military alliances and our commitment to the primacy of the United Nations. We have committed to reaching the 0.7% target of GNP dedicated to overseas aid. This builds on the Government's record of trebling ODA since it came to office and commits us to double it between now and 2012.

In this context, I believe that Ireland's foreign policy should now develop further to reflect and give expression to these developments. We are at a juncture where we have an enhanced opportunity to focus on what we have to offer other members of the international community. I strongly believe that we have a duty to share the lessons of our experience with others who may benefit from them. It is, I believe, time for Ireland to develop further our approach to international affairs, building on our long and proud contribution in areas such as peacekeeping and development. In an era when differences between the developed and developing worlds continue to challenge us, we have the opportunity, and obligation, to seek to build on our reputation as a bridge between nations.

I have taken a number of initiatives in this context. I have, for example, established a Conflict Resolution Unit in my Department. Initial meetings have taken place with various domestic and international partners. My intention is to focus Irish support for conflict resolution in a few key areas where our expertise can best support international efforts to bring about lasting peace and stability in regions affected by conflict. I am deeply conscious of the human suffering caused by conflict. Though conscious that we must be realistic in our ambitions, I also believe that if our unique experience with conflict resolution on this island can help alleviate the pain suffered elsewhere, then we have a responsibility to act.

I would also like to see Ireland develop its traditional profile as a supporter of the United Nations generally and of key items on its agenda, notably on disarmament and human rights. As the Deputy is aware, I have taken a particularly close personal interest in international efforts to address the issue of cluster munitions. Ireland will be participating actively in a series of forthcoming meetings to promote an adequate response from the international community to the serious humanitarian concerns that are associated with such weapons. There are three such meetings in the next six months — the first organised by Norway in Oslo later this month; the second in Montreux, Switzerland, in April, organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross; and the third, within the Convention on Conventional Weapons process, in Geneva next June, In accepting the invitation to the Oslo meeting, I made clear that Ireland is actively calling for a ban on cluster munitions. In the absence of such a ban, however, we support the call for an immediate freeze on their use.

There is scope for Ireland to take on a more active role in other areas too, not least in the development sphere in light of our commitment to reach the 0.7% target. Having seen at first hand the contribution that Irish people can make on the ground from peace keeping operations to emergency humanitarian relief in areas such as Darfur and the Tsunami affected areas, we have established a Rapid Response Initiative. As part of this initiative, I and my colleague the Minister for State at Irish Aid, Conor Lenihan, launched the Rapid Response Corps earlier this week. It will comprise highly skilled and experienced professionals willing to volunteer to assist in the humanitarian response effort of three of Ireland's UN partner agencies.

In essence, we are a small nation but we have significant skills and experience to offer the international community. I am determined that we should step further up to the mark and enhance our foreign policy profile so that it fully reflects the remarkable progress we have made as a nation in recent years.

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