US embassy cable - 05DUBLIN872

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000872 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, ECON, EFIN, PREL 
SUBJECT: IRISH RESPONSE TO DEAD SEA MEETING DEMARCHE 
 
REF: STATE 127710 
 
1.  On July 12, Post delivered reftel demarche to Fiona 
McCabe, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Third Secretary 
for the Middle East and North Africa.  McCabe noted that 
Ireland would not send a representative to the July 18-19 
Dead Sea Donors Committee Meeting and was not planning to 
announce any new forms of support for Iraq.  Recently, the 
GOI had considered, but had decided against, contributing 
personnel to the EU's proposed rule of law and police 
training program for Iraq. 
 
2.  McCabe reviewed Ireland's support for Iraq to date, 
summarized as follows: 
 
A) The GOI donated euro 5 million for immediate humanitarian 
needs in Iraq upon cessation of the conflict in 2003. 
 
B) At the 2003 Madrid Conference, Ireland pledged euro 3 
million (in addition to the euro 5 million already donated). 
 
C) Of the euro 3 million Madrid pledge, euro 1.5 million has 
already been allocated -- euro 1 million to the UNICEF 
primary education program in 2004, and euro 500,000 (in two 
installments in 2004 and 2005) to the Marsh Arabs via AMAR 
for primary health care. 
 
D) In 2004, Ireland allocated euro 500,000 for the UN 
protection force, but not out of the pledge made at the 
Madrid Conference. 
 
3.  McCabe pointed out that euro 1.5 million of the Madrid 
had not yet been allocated.  She explained that continuing 
security problems in Iraq have slowed the pace of 
reconstruction, including the work of international bodies 
and NGOs.  The drawdown of Ireland's pledged funding has thus 
been curtailed. 
 
KENNY