John Gormley
Question:154 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received a letter from a person (details supplied) regarding sanctions against Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11845/01]
Written Answers - Sanctions Against Iraq.
I have received and replied to a letter from the person in question regarding sanctions against Iraq. It would not be appropriate for me to a make a statement regarding the content of private correspondence.
I made a full statement to the House on the Government's policy concerning the situation in Iraq on 22 March. On the specific issue of the impact of sanctions, Ireland is playing an active and constructive role in the Iraq Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council, where we are encouraging implementation of the additional measures recommended by the UN Secretary General and others in order to greatly reduce and eliminate holds placed on applications for goods for humanitarian and essential civilian use.
We call on Iraq to co-operate with the United Nations in administering the oil-for-food programme and to use the means available to it to alleviate the suffering of its own people as well as to help bring about the circumstances which would permit the complete lifting of the sanctions.