Vol. 542 No. 2
116 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations he has made to the Australian Government regarding the treatment of persons rescued at sea seeking refuge in Australia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23736/01]
When the situation of those people at sea in the South Pacific and seeking asylum in that region became apparent at the end of August, I asked our ambassador in Canberra to bring the concerns of the Government to the attention of the Australian authorities. I also asked our embassies to Norway and Indonesia to urge the governments in Oslo and Jakarta to work with the Australian authorities to resolve the problem.
The ambassador spoke to the head of the special crisis unit established by the Australian Prime Minister to deal with the situation. He was informed that a number of other governments had made similar appeals including those of the United States, Britain, the Netherlands and Austria. The fact was also mentioned that, along with Canada, Australia is the world's leading nation in terms of refugee intake – about 12,000 per annum. In view of numerous previous incidents of trafficking in human beings, the Australian government took the view that the protection of Australian borders is very much related to maintaining the integrity of Australia's migration policy and Australia's capacity to assist in relation to the settlement of refugees. They said they are attempting to deal with the humanitarian issues involved and also to cope with what is a very significant international problem. The Australian authorities have provided humanitarian assistance to those on board vessels, in particular, food, clothing, shelter as well as medical attention and supplies.
As the Deputy will be aware, 283 people from the first boat carrying asylum seekers, the Tampa and 237 from the second boat, the Aceng, are having their cases processed by the UNHCR on the island of Nauru in the South Pacific. Some 150 people from the Tampa are having their cases processed by New Zealand. There is also another group of around 200 having their claims determined in Papua New Guinea.
I discussed the situation with the New Zealand Foreign Minister, Mr. Phil Goff, when he visited Dublin last month and he told me that New Zealand was playing a role to help address the serious humanitarian situation facing the asylum seekers and to assist Australia. Mr. Goff commented that the international community at large had a role with regard to these people, many of whom had fled Afghanistan. I agreed with that assessment.
In our contacts with other countries and the UNHCR, we have been encouraging parties to work towards a speedy resolution of this difficult situation – which we hope will not become a tragic one – through dialogue. The humanitarian concern is the primary element in our approach, along with the expression of the expectation that all of the parties involved will fully abide by their obligations under international law.
