Vol. 504 No. 4
31 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Ireland has contributed aid to alleviate the refugee crisis in Kosovo; the proposals, if any, he has to enhance or extend the scope and scale of this aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12053/99]
94 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Kosovar refugees reported to be in Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro or Bosnia; the financial contribution, if any, Ireland has made to ease the plight of the refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12023/99]
124 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent of aid sought by the agencies involved with assisting the victims of the war in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12274/99]
125 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent of aid offered by the Government to the victims of the Kosovo crisis; if an increase in this aid is contemplated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12275/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31, 94, 124 and 125 together.
As the Minister for Foreign Affairs mentioned in his reply to the Priority Question, the Govern ment has already given a total of £2.6 million in emergency assistance since the conflict in Kosovo began. Some £2.4 million of this was channelled through the Irish NGOs and UN agencies in the past month. While the response of the international community has been generous, we are conscious of the great humanitarian needs of the Kosovar refugees and of the host families in the region. The refugees and displaced people are living in camps or with host families. The latest estimates from the UNHCR on the number of displaced Kosovars indicate that 406,000 are in Albania, 230,900 are in the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, 61,700 are in Montenegro and 17,600 are in Bosnia. This makes a total of 716,000 refugees. The conditions in the camps are unsustainable due to overcrowding, their location near the border, which raises security considerations, and the onset of summer weather, which can lead to a deterioration in sanitation and health conditions.
The Government of the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia is conscious of the sensitivity of receiving large numbers of refugees into a country with a volatile ethnic mix. In an effort to relieve the situation, Albania will accept 60,000 refugees who are already in the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia. In addition, the UNHCR has stepped up its emergency evacuation programme to countries outside the region, which, of course, includes Ireland. The first group of refugees arrived here last night and arrangements are being made to welcome further groups over the next few weeks.
There is no doubt the crisis is having a huge negative impact on the economies of the region and the international community is examining ways to mitigate the effects on trade and socio-economic infrastructure in those countries. The EU fully recognises the dramatically increased burdens placed on these states and is determined to provide the necessary financial and economic support. Ireland, together with the other member states, is contributing financial support through the European Union and a new package of assistance, amounting to 250 million euros, was agreed in April by the Council of Ministers. This funding will be disbursed over a number of months.
Irish Government funding which, as I said, is being channelled through the Irish NGOs and the UN agencies, goes both to the refugees and to local families and communities. It is clear that further substantial assistance will be required in the months ahead, whatever happens at a political level. Arrangements will have to be made for the winter, which is particularly harsh in the Balkans. In addition, there are 600,000 to 800,000 people still internally displaced in Kosovo, whose needs will have to be met. At the beginning of April, the consensus of international opinion, shared by the UNHCR was to focus assistance in the region itself. However, when conditions deteriorated in Macedonia, the UNHCR triggered an emergency evacuation programme, calling states to accept refugees and give them temporary protection.
The humanitarian agencies are constantly updating their appeals for assistance on the basis of assessed needs in a very uncertain and changing environment. While they are getting a positive response from the international community, it is clear more support will be needed in the coming weeks. The Government intends to play a full part in helping to meet these needs. I intend to visit the region very soon to see the situation in the camps and local communities and to assess the needs. I am in constant touch with the UNHCR. The conditions in the Macedonian camps, in particular, are causing grave concern. Tensions and frustrations due to overcrowding and reported complaints of heavy handed management of the camps by the Macedonian authorities, themselves overstretched, led to disturbances yesterday. Some 2,000 refugees a day have been evacuated to third countries in the past four days.
The humanitarian effort will, no doubt, be discussed at the EU Development Council meeting on Friday, 21 May, when an updated report will be made to Ministers.
I wish the Minister of State well on her visit to the region. It is appropriate that such a visit should take place. I hope a parliamentary delegation will be facilitated in visiting there soon. Senator Lanigan and I were chosen to go but it was not safe to do so at that time.
How did the Government arrive at the figure of 1,000 refugees to be accepted into Ireland? On what basis was the number decided? I join the Minister of State in welcoming the first group of refugees here. How were the venues in Kerry and Cork chosen to locate this group? Was it that very few places offered? Were places contacted and asked to make facilities available? Why were Cork and Killarney chosen on this occasion?
The number of 1,000 refugees was proffered by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform at a meeting of Justice Ministers on 7 April. At that time, some countries had not offered to take refugees. It was the view of many countries, and of the UNHCR, that we should not contemplate a mass evacuation programme. However, on 23 April the UNHCR, on the basis of a massive deterioration of conditions – in the Macedonian camps, in particular – decided to trigger an emergency evacuation programme.
I have made it clear, and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has confirmed, that on the basis of our assessment of requirements as we continue to implement reception facilities and services for those 1,000 refugees over the coming weeks, we will remain open to a proposal to receive more.
As regards why Kerry and Cork were chosen, since 23 April when the UNHCR asked us to start taking in refugees, an interdepartmental group of officials has been trying to identify, inspect and prepare accommodation to receive the refugees. Locations have been chosen on the basis of availability, vacant possession, suitability for family groups of not less than 50 or 60 and compliance with fire safety regulations. The properties in Millstreet and Killarney were the first suitable ones ready according to the criteria we outlined.
The next group, which will arrive on Thursday, will be located in Kildare barracks and in Baltinglass. Until a future assessment is made, every effort is being made to prepare accommodation in other centres around the country so that we can take up our quota of 1,000 refugees.
I welcome the Minister of State's efforts on this issue. She has clearly put much effort into it and the arrival of some refugees reflects that. They received a cordial welcome in Kerry and Cork and there was no question of resistance.
Brevity please, Deputy. We are under pressure for time.
I appreciate that. In that context, I suggest the statement of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform last night was crass. The idea that Ireland is not in a position to take more than 1,000 refugees is an unhelpful and ungenerous approach to the problem. Albania, a country that is on its knees, is having to cope with up to 600,000 refugees.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform did not, in a declaratory sense, put a limit on the number of refugees we will take in. We have stated we are willing to reassess the situation. All our efforts at present are going into providing appropriate reception facilities for the 1,000 refugees that will be flown here in the next couple of weeks. We cannot put a limit or a ceiling on the generosity of the Irish people in this regard, particularly when the situation in the camps in Macedonia is deteriorating daily.
We are in constant communication with the UNHCR and, on the basis of an ongoing assessment of requirements, we stand ready to take more refugees. There has been some misrepresentation of what the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform said. Inevitably, as the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for this humanitarian effort, I would have a different emphasis in this regard. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has his own preoccupations and his own views on the matter. I do not accept, however, that he was ruling out the acceptance of further refugees by the Government. I am sure there is no resistance and that there is full public support for a generous response to further requests from the UNHCR. Even in the absence of such requests, on the basis of my assessment of needs in the camps following my visit there, I would be in a position, with the Minister, Deputy Andrews, to bring proposals to Cabinet in this regard.
I am delighted my home town of Baltinglass will be one of the centres to take some of the initial groups of refugees. A large number of army officers, perhaps between 30 and 50, have had experience in the Balkans in recent years. They have much expertise to offer. In view of that, will the Minister of State approach the Minister for Defence to determine if some of them could be seconded to assist the refugees to acclimatise in various centres?
I am aware of the experience and expertise of army officers in logistical operations such as this. I have already secured the secondment of several army officers to the refugee agency to help with its operational needs. Several Government Departments and State agencies have been involved, working around the clock, and are co-operating very well to put this operation in place. That effort is ongoing. On Thursday, a new group of refugees will arrive and will be housed in the former army barracks in Kildare, and in Baltinglass. I hope to avail of the services of various army personnel in that matter.
I welcome the efforts of the Minister of State and the Minister in this matter. However, given the speed of response of some other countries and some of the delays that have been encountered – the Minister of State hinted at some of them in her interviews – is there a need for a more proactive approach on an ongoing basis to deal with these humanitarian disasters that, unfortunately, occur all too frequently? What do we need to do to ensure we can respond more speedily? For example, Norway has already taken 2,000 refugees.
Brevity please, Deputy, and a question. I want to give the Minister of State time to reply.
Will the Minister of State outline the issues that led to some of the delays she has mentioned?
The main difficulty we encountered was identifying and inspecting appropriate accommodation which had vacant possession and complied with fire safety regulations. The specific needs of refugees are well known. They need to be kept in family groups and they need to have access to local services. They also need access to the management teams associated with them for the provision of trauma counselling, psychological services, education and training.
Not every type of accommodation is suitable. We are making contact with a mix of private sector property owners and various churches with a view to making appropriate accommodation available. Some public property owned by the Department of Defence is also being used. We may have to use mobile homes because they represent the fastest way of accommodating large numbers of people. It is a quicker route than refurbishing old, disused buildings.
Ceist a dó in ainm an Teachta Donal Carey.
I will not put down any questions the next time, and we will see how far we get. There is no point in putting down questions.
For the benefit of the House, Deputy Mitchell, I understand there was agreement between all parties on the new arrangements for question time. The Chair is obliged to implement the Standing Order.
The Whips agreed, but I do not think the parties agreed to it.
