Vol. 567 No. 7
80 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions at EU level on the best way in which to combat the international security threat posed by terrorist groups such as al Qaeda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14852/03]
The Irish Government agrees with Deputy Mitchell – as does the EU as a whole – that terrorism is a serious threat to international security, to peaceful relations between states and to the development and functioning of democratic institutions worldwide.
Ireland and its EU partners categorically condemn all acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, irrespective of the motivation of the perpetrators.
We must meet the threat of international terrorism on three levels. First, we must, as member states of the United Nations and of the European Union, do all we can to bring to justice the perpetrators, organisers and sponsors of previous terrorist attacks and to prevent further such atrocities. Second, we must combine in a longer-term initiative to defeat the monster of international terrorism; by choking off its funds, by cutting its supply of munitions and technical support and by denying it the bases from which it plans and prepares its actions. Third, we must redouble our efforts to put an end to the many conflicts and injustices, which, while they can never, ever justify terrorist atrocities, are exploited by the terrorists to garner support for their warped philosophies.
Until such time as the values of peaceful tolerance and mutual respect come to be universally acknowledged, the international community has no choice but to persist in the concerted and multi-faceted response which it developed in the wake of the al Qaeda attacks of 11 September 2001.
Resolution 1373, adopted by the UN Security Council on 28 September 2001, imposes obligations on member states under Chapter VII of the UN Charter and particularly emphasises measures that must be taken to combat the financing of terrorism. The Counter-Terrorism Committee, CTC, has broken new ground in its monitoring of the implementation of the resolution by UN member states, offering guidance to States on whether they need to raise their capacity in the areas covered by the resolution and, where appropriate, facilitating the provision of relevant assistance programmes.
81 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the ongoing investigations by the Indonesian authorities into the Bali bombing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14865/03]
On 12 October 2002 a series of bombs exploded in the tourist resort of Bali. As many as 202 people, mainly tourists, were killed and more than 300 people were injured. An Islamic terrorist group called Jemaah Islamiyah, whose aim is to establish a pan-Islamic state covering Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the southern Philippines island of Mindanao, was blamed for the bombing. Its leader, Muslim cleric Abu Baka Bashir, is on trial for plotting to overthrow the Indonesian Government and turn Indonesia into an Islamic state.
On 13 October 2002 I issued a statement strongly condemning the atrocities. I offered my deepest sympathies to the families of the victims on behalf of the Government.
On 14 October 2002 the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1438 which strongly condemned the attack in Bali. This resolution was an initiative of Australia and Ireland, as a member of the Council at the time, lent it strong support.
