Vol. 477 No. 6
38 Ms O'Donnell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of claims made by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16, who was resident in Kuwait during the Gulf War and who subsequently submitted UN claim forms, category C, to his Department; the reason that seven years after the event these claims have not been processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10101/97]
The United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) was established in 1991 by the UN Security Council to deal with claims for compensation from Iraq to individuals, companies, Governments and international organisations in respect of damages and losses incurred as a direct result of the invasion and occupation of Kuwait. The Commission divided claims into six separate categories. Category C is claims from individual for losses or damages up to US$100,000.
The one claim of this person was lodged with my Department in April 1992 and, along with 160 others, was transmitted to the Commission by Ireland's permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva in June 1993. Each country's category C claims all had to be presented to the Commission simultaneously.
The Commission is still processing category C and other claims, giving priority to categories A and B over category C and giving the more straightforward category C claims priority over others in that category. UN Security Council Resolutions 705 and 986 of 15 August 1991 and 14 April 1995 authorise the allocation of funds for payments to claimants. However, the Commission has been in a position actually to make payments only since funds became available in January 1997 after the UN reached agreement with Iraq in May 1996 to allow a resumption of oil exports on condition that a percentage of the proceeds would be used for compensation purposes.
Of the 174 Irish category C claims including 11 transferred from category B 61 have been recommended for payment so far and initial payments in respect of 20 of these are expected to be made in August 1997. The Commission is to take decisions on others of the more straightforward category C claims, including Irish category C claims, in June and December 1997 but it will not consider the more complicated claims, including that of the person to whom this question relates, until 1998.
The UNCC has received a total of some 2.64 million claims amounting to over US$200 billion. I am satisfied that the Commission is processing them systematically and fairly. The main reason for the delay has been the non-availability until relatively recently of funds for payments.
We are keeping all Irish claimants informed of the progress of their claims.
