Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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113. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his trip to the Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26987/14]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I travelled to Lebanon on Sunday, 15 June 2014. I was accompanied on the visit by Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Mr. Paul Kehoe, TD. The main purpose of the trip was to meet with Irish troops serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). During my visit I also met with the Lebanese Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Tammam Salaam, and announced an additional €2 million in emergency funding to assist Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and the communities who are hosting them.

I then travelled to the Headquarters of the joint Finnish/Irish Battalion in South Lebanon, where I met with UNIFIL Deputy Force Commander, Brigadier General Kumar and Finnish/Irish Battalion Chief of Staff Major Ollonqvist. I received a briefing on the mission from Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Campion, Officer Commanding the 45th Irish Infantry Group. That afternoon, I laid a wreath at the Irish UNIFIL Memorial in Tibnin, South Lebanon dedicated to the memory of the 47 Irish personnel who died while serving with the UNIFIL mission since it was first established in 1978. I returned to Ireland on Monday evening, 16 June.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Taoiseach if he had any bilateral meetings while in the Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26988/14]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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During my visit to the Lebanon on 16th June, I had an opportunity to meet with H.E. Mr. Tammam Salaam, President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Lebanon. Items discussed at the meeting included Ireland's contribution to UNIFIL (United National Interim Force in Lebanon) over nearly four decades, for which the Prime Minister expressed gratitude; the security, political and humanitarian situation in Syria and Palestine, and the burden this has placed on Lebanon; developments in Iraq; internal political developments in Lebanon; and the further strengthening of bilateral relations between Ireland and the Lebanon.

I also announced an additional €2 million to address the humanitarian crisis in the Lebanon, arising from the presence of 1.4 million refugees from Syria. The Prime Minister expressed his deep appreciation for this and for Ireland's support for the humanitarian crisis to date.