IRELAND: The Government has agreed in principle to increase its allocation of €10 million in emergency aid for the relief effort in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami.
However, ministers will not decide on the size and timing of the additional funding until the UN decides what its long-term requirements are.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern, and the Minister for Defence, Mr O'Dea, is to discuss the requirement for money and personnel with UN officials. In addition, the Government said it will give immediate consideration to the possibility of a visit to the disaster zone by Mr Dermot Ahern.
It said Mr Ahern would travel with the heads of leading aid agencies "if that is held to be useful in advancing the relief effort".
After a Cabinet meeting yesterday at which ministers discussed the disaster, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said the Government was ready to provide further assistance as part of a co-ordinated international relief effort. He stressed the Government was willing to provide logistics personnel, if they were required. However, he said a decision on deployment would depend on the findings of a technical team which is travelling to the disaster zone at the weekend.
Mr Dermot Ahern will attend a meeting of EU ministers tomorrow to discuss the situation.
