I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 130 together.
The devastating earthquake which hit the Marmara region of Turkey on August 17th has left over 15,000 dead and thousands more injured. The disaster resulted in an immediate and generous response from the international community. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, the Turkish Government declared a state of emergency for the region and requested international assistance. Ireland was among the first countries to respond to the humanitarian needs of the people affected by the earthquake making an initial grant of IR£200,000 to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent to enable them to purchase essential supplies such as food, water and any available medicines locally. As the scale of the devastation became clearer and more information on the needs of the victims became available, the Government announced a further grant of £500,000 to provide for the survivors of the earthquake.