Vol. 377 No. 9
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department will favourably respond to the pleas of the Nicaraguan Government for food aid, especially in the form of dried milk products from Ireland, in order to alleviate the hardship arising from the recent drought in that country.
16.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will publicly welcome the decision of the US House of Representatives to block proposals to give a further 35 million dollars in aid to the Nicaraguan Contras; if the Government intends to take any measures to help the peace process in Central America following this decision; if a request has been received from the Nicaraguan Government for food aid, specifically for dried milk; if the Government intends to respond positively to this request; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
44.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent decision of the United States Congress to cut off funding from the Contras in Nicaragua; if he will endorse the view of the President of Costa Rica that no funding should be made available to the Contras from any source; and if he will accede to the Nicaraguan Government's request for food aid in the form of 3,000 metric tonnes of dried milk.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 16 and 44 together.
In a statement to the Dáil on 5 November last, the Government expressed support for the Esquipulas II Agreement of 7 August 1987 and called on countries with links to and interests in Central America to lend constructive support to the peace efforts of the Central American States and themselves to make an effective contribution towards achieving peace. This is also the public joint position of the Twelve. We greatly welcome any development facilitating implementation of the agreement, one of the important provisions of which is the cessation of outside aid to irregular forces or insurrectionist movements in Central America. Therefore we share the view of the President of Costa Rica that outside military aid to insurgents in the region should cease. I intend to avail of the opportunity provided by the forthcoming ministerial conference of the States of the European Community, Central America and the Contadora Group in Hamburg on 29 February and 1 March, at first hand, to welcome the progress the Central American States have already made and to urge them to fulfil, unconditionally and without delay, their outstanding obligations under the Esquipulas II Agreement.
No direct request for food aid has been received from the Nicaraguan Government. I might add that food aid is the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture and Food.
I am grateful to the Minister for outlining our Government's explicit commitment to the Arias plan, which is the spirit of this House, or the consensus that the Minister has indicated. At the forthcoming meetings in Hamburg on 29 February and 1 March, will the Minister be suggesting that the request for food aid by Nicaragua be met by the Community? I further ask the Minister — because I am aware that his office, that of the Minister for Agriculture and Food and of the Taoiseach have had a message conveyed to them from the Nicaraguan Ambassador in London specifically requesting aid in the form of 3,000 metric tonnes of dried milk — if that request will be met by the Irish Government, directly or indirectly, through the Community?
That is a matter for Community aid. Nicaragua already received substantial aid from the Community — in fact, they received 21 per cent of all European Community aid to Central America, and rightly so. We made a contribution towards that aid. I will certainly be suggesting or pushing that if the need outlined by Deputy M. Higgins arises, which I agree does arise, or any other needs in this area such need be met. I am aware, as the Deputy suggests, that there has been a request made for 3,000 metric tonnes of dried milk at present. That request is being followed up.
In relation to food aid, would the Minister agree to raise with his Cabinet colleagues here the question of food for Nicaragua in view of the specific request made to the Government and the devastation caused to the production of food by the activities of the counter-revolutionaries in Nicaragua operating mainly from outside Nicaragua? Would the Minister specifically request our Government to provide the aid urgently required there?
We are at present looking into that matter through the auspices of Trocaire and Gorta who have been very active in this area. They are the two non-governmental bodies that have been very active in the area. We are in touch with them about it.
Will the Minister agree that there is a certain urgency about the food aid requested through the Nicaraguan Ambassador in London? Will he promise the House that he will make immediate representations to his Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, to ensure that this aid will be sent forthwith which would constitute a magnanimous gesture on the part of the Irish Government to the plight of the Nicaraguan people — leaving aside any political aspect — purely from a humanitarian point of view?
I will do everything to expedite the matter, to the extent of taking the matter up again this afternoon with a view to achieving what the Deputy suggests.
