Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the EU and UN can combine by way of emergency response force in order to more effectively deal with natural disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti with particular need to ensure a well organised co-ordinated and phased response at international level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7833/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 362: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the EU or UN have examined issues relating to the earthquake in Haiti with particular reference to the need for rapid and well co-ordinated early intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7834/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 361 and 362 together.

The tragic consequences of the earthquake in Haiti on 12 January have underlined the importance of early and sustained coordinated action in the response of the international community to humanitarian emergencies. It is agreed internationally that the United Nations has the lead role in coordinating this international response. There will be lessons to be learned from the response to the Haiti earthquake, but it is clear at this stage that there has been very close cooperation and coordination between the European Union and the United Nations in their response to the devastation caused.

The EU has targeted its support for the relief effort in Haiti in areas where capacity gaps have been identified in the overall UN effort. This has included, for example, a commitment to provide at least 300 police personnel to the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti, the deployment of expert personnel across all sectors, and the channelling of significant financial resources to UN agencies. A civil protection team deployed through the EU Monitoring and Information Centre was on the ground very quickly after the earthquake to support the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team in conducting initial assessments of needs and establishing the operations coordination centre in Port au Prince.

At the political level, the EU has emphasised from the start its strong support for the UN in its leadership of relief and recovery efforts in Haiti. High Representative Catherine Ashton met with the UN Secretary General on 22 January to discuss coordination and how the EU could make the most effective contribution to the UN-led international efforts. This commitment was reiterated by the European Council at its informal meeting in Brussels last Thursday. The EU and the UN are now participating in a comprehensive Post-Disaster Needs Assessment in Haiti, which will provide the framework for the support of the international community over the medium and longer term. The Assessment is being undertaken with the full involvement of the Government of Haiti, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. Its recommendations will be considered by the major conference on the reconstruction of Haiti, which is due to take place in April, in which Ireland will participate. In the months ahead, the EU will examine its response to the earthquake and consider if there are ways in which operational effectiveness could be further improved. The important point will be to ensure that all EU action adds value to the international effort and does not duplicate capacities in the UN or elsewhere.