Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2016
415. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the latest attack by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in Baghdad that killed 157 persons; if the Government donated money to assist the non-governmental organisations that are trying to provide humanitarian aid to the communities there; if there is a co-ordinated response from the European Union to this attack; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20465/16]
View answerI condemn absolutely and unreservedly the recent attack in Baghdad in which hundreds of Iraqis were murdered. I have repeatedly made clear Ireland’s total condemnation of Daesh’s murderous totalitarianism and its numerous crimes.
The May 2016 Foreign Affairs Council agreed on a comprehensive review of the EU regional strategy for Syria, Iraq and Daesh, which had been adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council in March 2015. Both the strategy and the review were published after their adoption by the Council. They set out the EU’s priorities in working to achieve lasting peace, stability, security in Syria, Iraq and the wider region and to end the suffering of the people of Syria and Iraq.
The humanitarian crisis in Iraq, resulting from the compounding of an already fragile political and security situation caused by the major Daesh offensives which began in summer 2014, is categorised as a Level 3 Emergency. This is the UN’s classification for the most severe, large-scale humanitarian crises. In 2014, Ireland responded to this humanitarian crisis by providing €1,155,000 in humanitarian assistance via our UN, Red Cross and NGO partners. In 2015, Ireland provided €1 million to the UN Humanitarian Pooled Fund in Iraq, €330,000 to Christian Aid in its work preventing sexual and gender based violence, and the €250,000 to UNICEF in Iraq. My Department is currently considering what further humanitarian funding it may be in a position to provide in 2016.
