asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) if he will outline the action he proposes to take at the United Nations to safeguard the lives of the refugees from Vietnam who are in boats off the coast of Malaysia and who have been endeavouring to land there; (b) when he expects the meeting of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to take place and the efforts he is making to expedite same; (c) the approaches, if any, he has made to our EEC partners and to the US to increase the number of refugees to be admitted by them since the alarming statements made recently by the Deputy Premier of Malaysia; and (d) if Ireland intends to take any further refugees other than the 100 he referred to some time ago.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vietnamese Refugees.
19.
The Foreign Ministers of the Nine EEC member states, including Ireland, meeting in Paris on 18 June, issued a statement on the refugee problem in South-East Asia, in the course of which they stated that they had decided to approach the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with a view to the convening of an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations to study practical measures to resolve this problem.
Naturally, the situation to which the Deputy refers, that is the danger to the lives of refugees from Vietnam now seeking to land in countries in the area, would be among the matters to be treated by a conference. We, together with our partners in the Nine, are anxious that no person should be forced out of his/her own country. Equally, however, we consider that they should be free to leave, if they should wish to do so. We are concerned that this tragic problem should be approached by all countries in a genuine humanitarian spirit.
With regard to the timing of the conference, it is not possible at this juncture to say how soon it might take place although we would wish it to be in the near future.
The members of the EEC, including Ireland, are alredy contributing to the relief of the problem, both by admitting refugees and by contributing financially to UNHCR. In addition, the EEC Commission recently contributed an extra 5 million units of account to help the refugees. The Deputy will be aware that the discussions in Paris to which I have referred took place subsequent to the reported statements by the Vice-Premier of Malaysia about the further admission of refugees to that country—some of which I understand he now alleges to have been wrongly reported.
The Government have decided to admit 100 Indo-Chinese refugees into Ireland, and have contributed financially to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) for their relief programmes in the region. We will be keeping under close review how best we can continue to aid the refugees, whether by direct contributions to the UNHCR or, in the light of our experience in settling the first group of refugees, whether it would be possible for us to admit and integrate further numbers.
Is the Minister aware that the Vice-Premier stated that the refugees, on landing, would be shot but that he later climbed down because of public opinion? Does the Minister agree that it was only because of public opinion, and because that country did not want to have bodies littered all over the place in front of television crews, that instead of shooting those people, they will send them out to sea where they will drown and there will not be any evidence of their drowning?
The whole thing is a blot on the conscience of mankind. The main responsibility for the problem—I express this in a personal manner—lies with the former masters of the unfortunate Far Eastern countries, particularly Vietnam—I refer specifically to France and America. These were the former colonial masters of these two countries and they bear a large burden of the responsibility for what is happening.
I am very pleased to hear the Minister making this very strong statement. When will the United Nations conference be convened in regard to this? Does the Minister agree that in the future, when this matter is being written about, the horrible loss of life which is occurring will bear a minor but a similar resemblance to the famine in Ireland and what the Nazis did to the Jews? Are we going to urge the United Nations to have this convention held? Are we pressing the United States, France and Britain to ensure they do something more than they are doing because at the moment they are only doing the bare minimum.
When the Minister refers to the responsibility of the French and American Governments in relation to this matter what degree of responsibility for the situation which exists would he attributable to the Government now in Vietnam? Has he made any representations to that Government to encourage them to desist from creating the conditions in which those people feel they have to flee their native country?
This is a separate question.
Seeing the Minister has been so liberal in his strictures——
Mr. Andrews
Perhaps one should not be too liberal in the context because sometimes liberality can be hung around a person's neck. That is exactly what the Deputy is trying to do. Perhaps I should not be too frank in my answers. We are not used to frankness.
Question No. 20. We cannot have a debate on Vietnam. I might remind the Deputy that we had a great number of questions, relevant and otherwise, on an earlier question on which we spent ten minutes.
Is the Minister aware that out of the money which is subscribed to the United Nations and the food which is subscribed to them it is assessed that only one-fourth of this gets to the refugees? Could the Minister look into this problem?
I am not aware of that but I will have the matter looked at.
This Minister in his reply referred to the decision to take in 100 refugees here. He also made some reference to a monetary contribution. Can he indicate the extent of that monetary contribution?
No. The Minister for Defence, in relation to the same type of question but in a different context gave a very comprehensive reply.
About ten days ago there was a statement in the papers which seemed to indicate that the Minister for Foreign Affairs was in favour of increasing the number of refugees from 100 to 500. In what circumstances did that figure get into print. What was the situation in regard to increasing the number of refugees?
This is a repetition of the questions we had on Question No. 1.
The Minister for Defence was not able to deal with it.
I have not a clue how figures get into the newspapers. There may be somebody trying to stir the matter up.
(Interruptions).
Have the Minister or his Department made any effort to ascertain the situation which exists in Vietnam which has led to those people fleeing their country? Has he made any representations in the matter to the Government responsible in that country?
That is a basic question which does not arise out of the reception of refugees. Question No. 20.
The problem would not be there if it was not for that.