Vol. 505 No. 4
1 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1 to 3 of 18 May 1999, the terms of reference and work programme of the Bethlehem 2000 Committee; the official engagements he will undertake as a member of the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13614/99]
The Palestinian National Authority decided last year, in co-ordination with the various Christian churches and international donor agencies and countries, to organise a major celebration known as Bethlehem 2000 relating to the start of the new millennium. The celebration itself is to be based in the town of Bethlehem and will last for 16 months, from December 1999 until Easter 2001. The festivities planned will take the form of major international religious and cultural events. These are expected to attract large numbers of pilgrims and tourists. These festivities will clearly have a major impact on the cultural and economic life of the entire region.
Responsibility for the organisation of the celebration is in the hands of a special Minister appointed by President Arafat of the Palestinian National Authority. It was decided that the establishment of an international committee composed of various world leaders from the religious and political spheres would give the celebration additional stature. I understand that among those who have accepted President Arafat's invitation to join the committee are President Chirac of France, President Mandela of South Africa, Prime Minister Blair and a number of other prime ministers. When I was in Gaza last January, President Arafat invited me to join this committee. During his visit here on 3 May I indicated that I was pleased to accept his invitation.
Membership of the international committee is primarily honorary in nature and in practical terms ensures high level international support for the efforts of the Palestinian authorities to mark the occasion. I regard my membership as fully in keeping with the duties and status of my office as Taoiseach. The committee does not have a specific mandate or work programme, nor do I antici pate undertaking any official engagements as a member of the committee.
Will the Taoiseach confirm that this celebration will commemorate not just the start of a new millennium but the anniversary of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem? Will he agree that the conditions in which many people of Palestinian origin have to live in parts of the area administered by the Palestinian authority are as bad if not worse than physical conditions at the time of the birth of Christ? In Gaza, which the Taoiseach visited, there is a severe problem regarding access to water and other basic essentials. In addition to his commendable work on the Bethlehem 2000 committee, will the Taoiseach make representations to the Israeli authorities asking them to ensure the basics of life are made available to people in territories surrounded by Israeli territory?
I confirm that the purpose of Bethlehem 2000 is to commemorate and celebrate the birth of Christ. The Pope, Archbishop Carey of Canterbury and many other religious leaders are members of the committee. The conditions in the Gaza strip and in the camps, which have existed since 1947, are extraordinarily severe. I do not believe I have ever seen on television or in films the poverty I walked through last January. These people suffer extraordinary hardship. During my visit I raised the issue with Prime Minister Netanyahu and will take it up with his successor in due course. The UN High Commission has resources, but unfortunately not enough resources are given to these accounts by various countries. In recent years Ireland has given increased resources. Last year $2 million was pledged by Ireland, to be provided over a number of years. That is an annual voluntary contribution given to the UN relief and works agency by way of bilateral support. A sum of $1 million is provided for the Palestinian national authority and NGO projects in the West Bank and Gaza.
Is it not the case that the amount of money Ireland is giving to the Palestinian people, who are effectively refugees in their own country, is considerably less than the assistance we receive from other countries in Europe and from the United States under the Anglo-Irish arrangements? We have a great responsibility, particularly in the celebration of the anniversary of the birth of Christ, who was born in circumstances where his parents were living away from their home and in some difficulty, to do our duty, in accordance with our various religious beliefs, to ensure that people are not living in the sort of conditions the Taoiseach so eloquently described.
Money is never enough when people are living in squalor. A bilateral aid programme has operated since 1986. Since 1994 we have given further funds and additional resources have been given under the programme signed up for 1999-2003. That will go to NGOs and other groups. Bethlehem University is submitting a proposal for an extension of its library to house this collection of Palestinian literature and cultural material. Irish Aid hopes to be in a position to fund this project. Most of the money we give is direct aid towards the UN relief and works agency, which is badly needed. During my visit I met NGOs and members of the UN relief and works agency and they made the point that Ireland should give as much as it can. Large countries give absolutely nothing towards these projects.
Why?
Will the Taoiseach agree the best way to give concrete substance to the humanitarian efforts associated with the Bethlehem 2000 celebrations, which I endorse, would be for the new emerging administration in Israel to reach a peaceful settlement with all its neighbours, not just the Palestinian authority but also Syria and Lebanon? Is he aware of a practice, of which I am ashamed, which has operated under successive administrations, during my term of office and his – I have documentation to confirm this – where Palestinian doctors, who get a visa and come here to do a four year post-graduate course and work at the same time, are not told at the time of coming here that if they subsequently seek to have their wife join them she will be denied a visa without reason or explanation? When I pursued this matter, I was told informally that the reason they are denied a visa is the fear that if these devout and religiously observant people were together, they might have a child. If they had a child during the four years, they could not be deported.
That is a detailed matter which should be dealt with in a separate question.
This measure would not cost taxpayers a single penny in relief. However, it would enable a Palestinian doctor to return to Palestine.
The matter should be the subject of a separate question.
Is the Taoiseach aware of the practice? Has he raised it with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform? Does he intend to end the practice?
The matter is not relevant to the question but the Taoiseach may respond if he wishes.
I am aware of the matter because Deputy Quinn raised it during another debate recently. However, it does not only relate to Palestine.
No.
It relates to all countries.
That makes it worse.
I raised the matter with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform after the Deputy raised it on the last occasion. If the Deputy gives me the details, I will consider them. However, I raised the matter generally with the Minister.
It is general practice. I can give the Taoiseach chapter and verse but it is a general principle.
In view of the dreadful conditions under which the subjects of the Palestinian authority are living, will the Taoiseach consider giving priority status to them under our aid programme to ensure much more help is provided to them?
They are already receiving aid but I will raise this matter, which is a priority, with the relevant Minister.
