Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the most recent Council of Ministers meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7141/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will recall that under the Lisbon Treaty, the General Affairs and External Relations Council has now been divided into two parts: the General Affairs Council and the Foreign Affairs Councils. Due to the Hillsborough talks, I was unable to attend the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday, 25 January, which was chaired by Catherine Ashton, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Minister of State Roche attended the meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and the General Affairs Council. Minister of State Power joined the Foreign Affairs Council for discussion of the EU response to the disaster in Haiti.

At the General Affairs Council, there was discussion of the Spanish Presidency Programme which is focusing on the cross-cutting themes of innovation and equality. We have welcomed the Spanish Presidency Programme which is particularly important in helping Europe to achieve economic recovery and create jobs. This was discussed in more detail by the Taoiseach and his EU colleagues at the informal meeting of the European Council which took place on Thursday last, 11 February.

The Foreign Affairs Council discussed the coordination of the EU response to the disaster in Haiti, following-up on the meeting of Development Ministers at which my colleague Minister of State Power represented the Government. As the Deputy will be aware, the EU is providing substantial humanitarian assistance of some €122 million to the relief operation and the above-mentioned meeting of Development Ministers agreed to contribute a further €300 million in the medium to long term. In addition, the Foreign Affairs Council agreed that the EU would provide 300 police personnel to reinforce the UN effort in Haiti. The EU also pledged to set up a central point in Brussels – EUCO Haiti – to coordinate contributions by Member States of military and security support to the UN effort.

Minister of State Power briefed our European colleagues on the support provided to Haiti through Irish Aid, which has included the shipment of 83 tonnes of emergency materials which are being distributed by Concern and Goal, the disbursement of funds to the World Food programme for emergency feeding, the deployment of members of the Rapid Response Corps and an Irish Aid technical team. In addition, the United Nations is drawing down funding from Ireland's contribution to the Central Emergency Response Fund.

On the Iranian nuclear issue, Ministers discussed the continuing unwillingness of the Iranian government to engage in a meaningful way with the international community over its nuclear programme. The Council also considered how the European Union can most appropriately support further action by the UN Security Council should this arise.

The political situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina was also on the agenda. Ministers called on Bosnia-Herzegovina to speed up key reforms. The Council approved a non-executive capacity-building and training mission to start within the framework of the existing EU military operation, Operation Althea. Parallel to this, Althea will maintain the current executive presence in Bosnia during the course of elections planned for October this year, and will remain at least until November, when the current UN Security Council Resolution expires. The EU may extend the current executive military role beyond 2010 should the situation require it; this would require the authorisation of a new Security Council resolution.

Ministers also focused on developments in Somalia and, in response to a number of United Nations Security Council resolutions, agreed to set up a Common Security and Defence Policy operation to contribute to the training of the Somali Transitional Federal Government forces.

Ministers looked forward to the International Conference on Afghanistan which was held on 28 January in London and stressed the importance of having specific outcomes and commitments with actions and deliverables on the part of the Afghan Government and the international community.

Unfortunately, I was unable to join the Conference because of my involvement in the Hillsborough Castle negotiations. I was pleased, however, to have an opportunity to discuss the outcome with Foreign Secretary Miliband during our bilateral meeting in London on 4 February. Our discussions also included an exchange of views on the situation in Yemen, in the context of an international meeting which had been held in London on 27 January on the eve of the Afghanistan Conference. I welcomed the focus on a comprehensive strategy for Yemen by the international community which will help to tackle all of the challenges facing the country. I also drew attention to the country's humanitarian needs and the fact that Irish Aid has recently provided some €200,000 in funding.