Irish relief: Defence Force personnel are to be sent to the US gulf coast to provide psychological counselling for people affected by the disaster, in addition to the €1 million pledged by the Government for the relief effort yesterday.
Thousands of ready-prepared meals, dozens of field tents and water purification systems are also to be sent to aid the hurricane victims.
Ireland may in addition send other specialist personnel to help in the rebuilding of New Orleans infrastructure. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said he could not say what specific role they could have, but recalled that after previous disasters in the UK and Europe Irish people who were experts in the area of electricity supply were sent.
He told reporters at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting in Cavan yesterday that the €1 million allocated yesterday was "an initial allocation from our emergency fund". It followed a suggestion at a meeting of EU foreign ministers last Thursday that there should be a European response. He said there had been a US request to the EU for assistance.
Asked if it was odd that Ireland should be giving financial assistance to the most powerful country in the world, he said: "Given that America has helped us for decades and centuries, it behoves us to help them in a time of need."
Irish assistance will be directed via the Red Cross, civil society and community-based organisations.