asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the devastation caused in Central America and particularly in Nicaragua by hurricane Joan, which in Nicaragua left more than 50 dead and the homes of more than 300,000 destroyed, and the urgent need for international assistance, the Government will consider making an allocation of emergency aid available to Nicaragua and the other countries which have been hit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Private Notice Question. - Emergency Aid to Central America.
Hurricane Joan has caused quite extensive damage in Nicaragua and other Central American Countries, although not on the scale of the flooding disasters in Sudan and Bangladesh which have affected millions in each of these countries. A major international effort is being launched to assist the Central American region which appears, on present reports, to be quite well funded for dealing with immediate relief needs and includes a substantial allocation by the European Community, to which Ireland contributes through the EC budget. I am keeping the question of emergency assistance to the region under review.
Can I take it from the Minister's reply that he does not propose to make any aid available from this Government to Central America other than its normal contribution through the EC budget? Would he not regard it as a disgrace that we are not taking steps to assist urgently people who have lost their homes right across Central America?
The Deputy will appreciate that the Government must keep a sense of priority in these matters. We have given very substantial aid in the past few weeks, reaching nearly £1 million already, both to Sudan and Bangladesh, and we are keeping this matter under review as well. On our assessment of the matter, and we are in touch with the situation, we will do what is necessary in a humanitarian manner. We have already made a contribution through the European Community to which we subscribe for this purpose.
What the Minister is saying is that he is not going to give any aid to Central America.
I did not say that.
Is the Minister going to give aid?
Has it anything to do with the fact that only £1,000 has been allocated in this year's Estimates for emergency relief and aid?
I want to nail that canard. In the past month this Government have spent £800,000 in this very area of humanitarian relief abroad.
And they are not sending anything to Latin America.
When one puts a line in any Estimate, as the Deputy should know, that means one is leaving it open for the Government to make what allocation it wishes when emergencies arise.
It leaves it open to the Government to do nothing.
We have paid £800,000 in the past month in direct allocations to Bangladesh and Sudan and we are keeping the matter open for such relief to Central America. Already we have made a contribution through our EC subscription.
It is a disgrace.
That disposes of questions for today.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the issue of Irish aid to Nicaragua.
I will communicate with the Deputy.