Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 207: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the main new EU proposals in the Lisbon treaty in relation to humanitarian aid, natural disasters and conflict resolution; the role he envisages for Ireland in these matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38174/10]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The European Union and its Member States are collectively the largest donor of development assistance in the world. Working together we have an impact and an influence far beyond that of any single Member State.

The Lisbon Treaty has promoted a more sharply focused response to humanitarian crises. For the first time, the EU has a specific legal basis for humanitarian aid, which underlines the principles of international law, impartiality and non-discrimination. The EU and its Member States are also legally obliged by the Treaty to work much more closely together. This has enabled Ireland to generate a stronger international consensus on the priorities we have identified in the fight against hunger and poverty–hunger and nutrition, the poorest countries and communities in Africa, and making aid more effective.

A very early test of the new arrangements under Lisbon was the response to the earthquake in Haiti which took place less than a fortnight after the treaty entered into force. An emergency meeting of Ministers agreed a common EU response which was co-ordinated through the new Lisbon foreign policy structures.

Ireland played its part in this Haiti operation, carrying out two major airlifts of emergency shelter, water and sanitation equipment from our emergency stockpiles.

At the International Conference on the Reconstruction of Haiti, the EU spoke as one through the High Representative Catherine Ashton, who pledged over €1.2 billion for the reconstruction of Haiti. That figure is the combination of all funding from EU Member States and the Commission, including the €13 million pledged by Ireland.

Ireland is actively involved in an EU process aimed at further improving our combined response when a crisis strikes. Like a number of Member States, Ireland has a rapid response corps – a roster of high trained and highly skilled individuals who can be deployed in an emergency.

We are working with the Commission and other Member States to determine how these national initiatives can work more closely together and under an EU umbrella. The priority is to ensure that the combined EU response is quick, coherent and effective.

The Treaty of Lisbon makes specific reference to the need to use its common policies and actions to work towards the prevention of conflict. The values enshrined in the Treaty - the rule of law, the protection and promotion of human rights and support for the principles of the UN Charter – are those that underpin the Union's commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes. The Treaty gives the Union the tools it needs to speak with a clear voice on the international stage and to engage in more effective conflict prevention and peacekeeping.