asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government had any plans to provide urgent financial, medical or technical assistance to the Irish Red Cross for the relief of distress on the victims of the earthquake in the south of Italy; if he will outline the action, if any, the Government have already taken in this matter and when will assistance be provided.
Private Notice Questions. - Italian Earthquake Victims.
I know that every Deputy in this House shares my dismay at the calamitous disaster which struck the people of southern Italy last weekend. On hearing the news the President. Taoiseach and I sent messages of sympathy. In the course of my message I informed Signor Colombo, Foreign Minister of Italy, that we stand ready to assist in every way possible in this catastrophe. My Department are in direct touch with the Italian authorities concerning the whole matter.
I am certain that the Minister is aware that the Irish Red Cross have appealed for help and assistance in this matter. I would have hoped that our country, on humanitarian grounds, would have taken the initiative in this matter. Is the Minister aware that already other countries throughout Europe have sent blankets, food, medicines, tents——
A question, please, not information.
Do we intend to make a positive contribution as distinct from sending messages of sympathy?
The Deputy might appreciate the question he put down by listening to what I said. I have been in direct touch with the Foreign Minister of Italy, Signor Colombo, who happens to represent a constituency in the heart of the disaster area and is a friend of mine. We stand ready as a country — I assured him of this in my message to him — to assist in every way possible in this catastrophe. My Department are in direct touch with the Italian authorities, both with the Italian Embassy here and with the Italian authorities in Rome, to know how best we can help in this matter. There is no point in going into a matter of this kind without being informed as to how best one can help. That is our approach.
Is the Minister aware of the requests of the Irish Red Cross and is he also aware that the League of Red Cross Societies in Geneva have made a similar appeal? This appeal has been responded to by numerous countries and why have we so far failed to make any positive genuine contribution in the form of assistance and aid? It is disappointing that we have failed to do so.
The Deputy might be aware that I have information available to me which he does not. The Italian Government have so far declined all offers of concerted international relief or assistance including a United Nations effort to launch an appeal. The Government of Italy are still in the process of ascertaining the precise position in this unfortunate, remote area which the earthquake catastrophe hit. We have been in direct contact with these authorities and they advise us to proceed as we are proceeding.
In view of the Italian Christian Democrat Government's performance in other such matters — for example, the crisis in relation to Venice — would the Minister not agree that a request for aid from the International Red Cross, which is a professional body in this area, is one to which we should accede immediately while awaiting a detailed reply from the Italian Government.
I am not proposing to make judgments on the Italian Government or those who comprise the Italian Government.
I do not intend to comment on matters in relation to another country but I ask the Minister if he is aware of the very difficult area in which this catastrophe has occurred.
Of course, I am.
Communications are impossible and many people have been injured and maimed and are lying there——
A question, please, Deputy, not a statement.
Has the Minister made any contact with the Irish Red Cross in this matter and have his Department made any contact with the Red Cross Society in Geneva in regard to this matter? If not, why not?
I have dealt fully with this matter.
(Interruptions.)
Are we in a position to give them——
It is most disappointing and I wish to convey to the House my disappointment.