Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Oct 1994

Vol. 445 No. 9

Written Answers. - Vietnam Disaster Relief.

Ivan Yates

Ceist:

59 Mr. Yates asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the weather damage which in recent weeks has wiped out half the rice crop in Vietnam; if his Department has received a request to contribute towards disaster relief in this country; and, if so, his attitude to such a request. [1456/94]

Mary Flaherty

Ceist:

87 Miss Flaherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the weather damage which has wiped out half the rice crop in Vietnam in recent weeks; if his Department has received a request to contribute towards disaster relief in this country; and, if so, his attitude to such a request. [1454/94]

Avril Doyle

Ceist:

95 Mrs. Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the weather damage which has wiped out half the rice crop in Vietnam in recent weeks; if his Department has received a request to contribute towards disaster relief in this country; and, if so, his attitude to such a request. [1455/94]

John Connor

Ceist:

132 Mr. Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the weather damage which in recent weeks has wiped out half the rice crop in Vietnam; if he has received a request to contribute towards disaster relief in that country; and, if so, his views on such a request. [1487/94]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 87, 95 and 132 together.

My Department has received reports of weather damage in a number of countries in South East Asia, including Vietnam. I understand that heavy rains in the Mekong River catchment area have caused flooding in the Mekong Delta in Southern Vietnam and that a typhoon has also caused flooding in the north central coastal region. I am informed that as a result of the weather damage approximately 50 per cent of the summer-autumn rice crop has been lost.

Reports indicate that the immediate needs of affected families are being met by the Vietnamese authorities and to date the Vietnamese Government has not issued any appeal for international assistance. My Department has not received any request for a contribution towards disaster relief. Any such request received will of course receive the fullest consideration.