Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the situation in Iraq; if he accepts recent reports that there has been real progress towards peace and the withdrawal of occupying forces; his views on whether the oil contracts awarded in recent months have been in the best interests of the communities of Iraq. [7164/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have been pleased to be able to report to this House on a number of occasions on the substantial improvement in security in Iraq which has taken place over the last three years. While incidents of violence are still an all too frequent occurrence, they have been reduced significantly and preparations for Iraq's national elections in March are underway.

The continuing violent attacks in recent weeks and months clearly remind us, however, of the very significant problems, including security concerns, that Iraq continues to face. Large scale violent attacks are now principally confined to Baghdad and the ethnic interface areas of Mosul and Kirkuk. In particular, it seems clear that large scale bombing attacks in Baghdad by militant groups, aimed at high civilian casualties as well as at the police, are intended to try and reignite the dreadful sectarian violence of a few years ago, from which Iraq has only painfully emerged.

During 2008, security control of almost all Iraqi provinces was returned to Iraqi forces, and the overarching security role of the UN-mandated MultiNational Force in Iraq came to an end. The Iraqi Government and its security forces are now responsible for security in Iraq. Iraqi security forces have demonstrated significantly improved capabilities, but are not yet able to cope with the serious continuing threats without outside assistance. The presence and the rules governing the remaining international forces in Iraq, principally from the United States, are now established in bilateral arrangements between Iraq and these countries. Furthermore, it is envisaged that the security role of these forces will be progressively reduced, with forces ceasing day-to-day operations on the streets, and instead operating from bases at the request of and in support of Iraqi forces. At present it is envisaged that this reduced role will end in 2011.

The election preparations underway within Iraq have been marked by some controversy following a recent court ruling overturning a ban imposed by the Iraqi Government on up to 500 election candidates with alleged links to the former ruling Ba'ath party from standing. Nonetheless it is also clear that election preparations are bringing different groups in Iraq to peaceful negotiations. Indeed Iraqi society is actively participating in the debate and preparations and this is a very positive indication of how far Iraq has come. Nonetheless, the authorities in Iraq continue to require the encouragement of the international community, and the EU has committed to provide support to the elections, including by sending an enlarged team of electoral experts as well as through the engagement of EU diplomatic missions in Iraq.

The Iraqi oil ministry has recently awarded contracts to international companies, from a number of countries, to develop production in the country. International expertise and investment is thought to be crucial to the development of Iraq's oil industry, which has suffered from many years of isolation. The awarding of such contracts is a matter for the Iraqi government.