Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 103: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the follow up assistance that is being offered by the international community in general and the EU specifically to the relief effort in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13344/10]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 129: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the recommendations for action by Irish Aid in the medium and longer term made by the technical team he sent to Haiti to undertake an analysis of priority needs; the actions he has taken and plans to take resulting from these recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13249/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 290: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which international aid to Haiti has been successfully and strategically delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13523/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 103, 129 and 290 together.

The challenges faced in responding to the devastating Haiti earthquake of 12 January were exceptionally serious: the destruction of essential infrastructure, the tragic loss of both key Government and UN personnel, and enormous pre-existing vulnerabilities.

The international community generally and the EU specifically responded decisively and comprehensively to the disaster. From the outset, immediate operational support was provided through the deployment of search and rescue teams, and other expert personnel, including from the EU. EU Member States and the European Commission quickly committed significant levels of emergency funding for emergency assistance, and airlifts of essential humanitarian supplies were organised. Despite the difficult circumstances, hundreds of thousands of people in Haiti have now received vital humanitarian assistance.

Within days of the earthquake, the Government sent a technical team of four personnel to Haiti to undertake an analysis of priority needs and to make recommendations for action by Irish Aid in the medium and longer term. The team - three Irish Aid officials and an engineer from the Defence Forces - spent five days on the ground.

The team reported to me with a comprehensive set of recommendations which have underpinned the actions taken by the Government in response to the crisis. Drawing on lessons learned following the 2004 Asian Tsunami, they advised that Irish Aid focus on a small number of key sectors and experienced partners.

The most urgent recommendation was for a second airlift of emergency shelter, water and sanitation equipment in addition to the 84 tonne shipment carried out immediately following the earthquake. The Government responded by transporting a further 50 tonnes of essential relief items from our pre-positioned supplies. These supplies, to benefit 12,000 disaster affected families, were distributed by Concern, Goal and Trócaire.

The team recommended that the Government concentrate its short to medium resources on the protection of vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities, and sanitation, to help prevent the spread of disease. We are therefore providing support to Concern for work in the area of water, sanitation and hygiene; to Haven for the construction of latrines; and to World Vision and Plan Ireland for the education and protection of children.

The team proposed that Irish Aid support Cash for Work schemes, which employ local people in delivering recovery projects. Irish Aid-funded water and sanitation projects are therefore providing much need employment for local people in their implementation.

In the longer term the team recommended the Government support the Haitian people in developing the necessary capacity to rebuild their country. The EU, together with the wider international community, has repeatedly underlined the importance of Haitian leadership of its own recovery and development processes. Irish Government funding will enable UN HABITAT to provide technical and secretariat assistance to the Haitian Government in the vital areas of housing, social and physical infrastructure, urban and spatial planning, and shelter advice.

The informal European Council in Brussels of 11 February committed the European Union to a central role in Haiti's recovery and rehabilitation over the medium and longer term. The European Commission, together with the Haitian Government, the UN, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, undertook a comprehensive Post-Disaster Needs Assessment in Haiti. The Assessment will provide the framework for Haiti's long term recovery and will be an important input to an International Donors' Conference in New York tomorrow (31 March).

A common EU position for the Conference was agreed by the Foreign Affairs Council, which I attended on 22 March. The Council agreed to support, in partnership with the international community, a Haitian Government-led plan for long-term reconstruction and sustainable development in Haiti. The common EU position will be conveyed by the EU High Representative at the International Donors' Conference and will include a common pledge representing the overall EU commitment to the reconstruction of Haiti.

In line with the recommendation of our own technical team for a longer term engagement in Haiti, the Government will pledge a multi-million Euro, three year package of Irish Government support to Haiti at tomorrow's Donor Conference. This package, which is a clear indication of Ireland's commitment to the Haitian people, will include relief, recovery and development assistance over the period to the end of 2012, as well as a contribution to the relief of Haiti's debt.