Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the UN Peacebuilding Commission formally established in 2005; the resources made available to it; and its programme of action and overall contribution to post conflict situations. [23528/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The UN Peacebuilding Commission was formally established by parallel resolutions of the UN General Assembly and Security Council in December 2005, on foot of a recommendation from the UN World Summit in September 2005. The Commission became operational in June 2006. Its purpose is to enhance the coherence and impact of the international community's activities by advising on and proposing integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery.

The work of the Peacebuilding Commission is assisted by the Peacebuilding Support Office, which acts as a secretariat to the Commission and works to identify lessons learned and best practice, and to ensure that the Commission's advice is implemented in the UN system. A Working Group on Lessons Learned is also active, and seeks to examine good practices and practical lessons in peacebuilding drawn from comparative experiences in different countries and regions.

The World Summit in 2005 also agreed to establish a Peacebuilding Fund to support the work of the Commission and to address countries' immediate needs as they emerge from conflict. The Peacebuilding Fund receives voluntary contributions from UN Member States which are used to initiate critical peacebuilding interventions. As of 31 May 2008, the Fund had received US$238,467,125 including US$12.6 million or €10 million from Ireland.

The first countries on the agenda of the Commission were Sierra Leone and Burundi. Guinea-Bissau was added in December 2007 and on 12 June the Central African Republic became the fourth country to be placed on the agenda of the Commission. In addition to our financial support, Ireland contributes actively to the deliberations of the Commission both through our Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and the Irish Aid Office in Freetown, Sierra Leone.