Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2015
629. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the ongoing conflict in the Republic of Yemen with his European Union counterparts; if he will do so at the next European Union Foreign Affairs Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30196/15]
View answerAt the April meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, I engaged in a discussion with EU Foreign Ministers of the crisis in Yemen which has worsened an already dire humanitarian situation.
This meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council adopted conclusions which reflect the EU position on the conflict and which called for an inclusive political process to find a solution.
Subsequently, in mid-June, and with the fighting continuing, the warring factions in Yemen finally came together in Geneva for proximity talks brokered by the UN Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. Unfortunately, these talks ended without an agreement. Ireland supports the peace talks and their aims of funding agreement on a ceasefire, consensus on a political way forward for Yemen as well as the securing of humanitarian access so that so that vital assistance to the most vulnerable can be delivered immediately.
In March of this year, Ireland contributed €500,000 to the Yemen Humanitarian Response Fund, matching a similar contribution made in 2014. Ireland also supports Oxfam and the ICRC who are working on the humanitarian response to the crisis in Yemen.
I share the disappointment expressed by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday of this week that the weeklong unconditional humanitarian pause negotiated by the UN, which was to start on Friday 10 July, did not take hold.
The EU has already made its position on the crisis very clear, including our full support for the UN-led efforts, and I do not expect that Yemen will be discussed at the next meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 20 July.
