Sir, - On Monday night last, in the course of his radio programme, Vincent Browne was offered a full account of my reaction to the crisis in the Lebanon. He wasn't interested, apparently never let the facts get in the way of a story! His column in this morning's newspaper (April 17th) contains a number of serious distortions and inaccuracies which it is necessary to correct.
Ireland has been centrally engaged, as a current member of the EU Troika, in intensive efforts to end the crisis. An EU statement on the matter was issued on April 12th, and a further EU statement was made in the UN Security Council debate on April 15th.
On Saturday last, one of my officials, responsible for the Middle East, had already travelled out to the region to participate on Ireland's behalf in a series of urgent Troika missions. The Troika is visiting Beirut, Damascus, Amman, Cairo and Tel Aviv. In parallel, the political director of my department has been attending meetings on the same issue with officials from each of the EU member States.
In addition, officials of my department have been involved in separate discussions this week, in the context of the follow up to the Euro Mediterranean Conference, which have included discussions with a number of key countries involved in the current crisis.
On my instructions, the Israeli Ambassador was summoned to the Department on Tuesday morning, so that the Government's concerns could be made a explicitly clear to him and conveyed to his authorities.
I totally reject the criticism of the White Paper made in the article. Indeed, the Middle East conflict is singled out in the White Paper for special attention as "one of the greatest challenges to regional and world peace". The steps that have been, and are being, taken by the Government in support of the Peace Process are spelt out in considerable detail. These efforts have included a major commitment by the Irish Defence Forces to UN peacekeeping in Lebanon, through their participation in UNIFIL, and tribute to their dedicated efforts, not least during the current crisis, is due. Irish humanitarian agencies have also had a major involvement in the region.
Ill informed and distorted comment of the kind made by Vincent Browne is extremely harmful to the efforts that Ireland is making, as a member of the Troika, to bring the crisis to an end. Surely even Vincent Browne would agree that if there is a way we can help to bring the crisis to an end, that is the direction in which we should be bending our efforts, even if effectiveness involves a quieter and more subtle approach than he favours. - Yours, etc.,
DICK SPRING TD, Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Dublin 2.