Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on recent threats made against Chaldean Christians in Iraq [43140/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am gravely concerned by the recent upsurge in attacks against Chaldean and other Christians in Iraq, including the horrific attack against defenceless worshippers at Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad on 31 October which left 52 people dead. I fully support EU High Representative Ashton's statements on these attacks on 1 and 3 November. It is deeply regrettable for Iraq as a whole that its Christian community has decreased significantly in recent years because many Iraqi Christians have felt forced to emigrate from their home country due to fears for their safety. Iraq has had a Christian community since the early days of Christianity. Those that perpetrate these outrages are attempting to undermine Iraq's identity as a pluralistic state in which Christians, Muslims and people of other religions can peacefully co-exist. The EU is determined to support Iraq's leadership in ensuring that stability and security returns to Iraq for all Iraqis. Groups such as Al Qaeda in Iraq who seek to destabilise the country with such attacks have taken advantage of the power vacuum since the March 2010 elections. I therefore welcome the fact that Iraq's Parliament finally reconvened on 11 November and the agreement on the formation of a new power-sharing government which has now been reached. I am encouraged that the first act of the newly convened Iraqi parliament was to appoint a Sunni Arab member of the opposition al-Iraqiyya coalition as Speaker under the deal which also sees outgoing President Talabani and Prime Minister Maliki re-appointed to their positions. I hope that Prime Minister Maliki will be able to assemble a representative Cabinet without undue delay which can begin immediately to address effectively the issue of security in Iraq. Ireland, together with its EU partners, is determined to do everything possible to assist and support the new Iraqi government's efforts to improve security for all Iraqis.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a proposal to his partners in the EU for Ireland to be chosen as a European peace institute and centre for post-conflict reconstruction. [43141/10]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on suggestions emanating from Sweden and Finland that the EU ought to adopt an independent think tank, an institute of peace made up of high-level non-governmental experts able to advise the EU on the prevention and resolution of conflicts in the world which would be funded by member states and community institutions; if this suggestion enjoys his support; if he has called upon Baroness Ashton to include the subject on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43162/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 46 together.

On 3 September last, the Foreign Ministers of Sweden and Finland proposed setting up an EU Institute for Peace, which would engage in conflict resolution activities worldwide and develop the EU's capacity to engage in mediation activities.

The announcement of this proposal coincided with a period of intense efforts to establish the European External Action Service (EEAS) and has served a useful purpose in focusing attention on the role the EU wishes to play in conflict resolution and mediation activities. Ireland places strong emphasis on the need for the EU to be active in international efforts to resolve conflict and to reduce the drivers of conflict.

The establishment of the EEAS represents a welcome strengthening of the capacity of the EU to place conflict prevention and resolution work at the heart of the EU's external action. I look forward to proposals from the High Representative on how the new service will deal with the issues highlighted by my Swedish and Finnish colleagues.

There has, as yet, been no discussion by the Council of Ministers, either formal or informal, of the Swedish/Finnish proposal for an EU Institute for Peace. Questions such as the structure and location of such a body are, accordingly, premature at this stage.