Updated 9.10pm

THE TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny has offered his condolences to the victims of today’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan and says Ireland is ready to assist “in any way possible”.

Following the offer of condolences and aid from other countries, in a statement this afternoon, Kenny said:

I wish to express the solidarity of the Irish people with the people of Japan in this moment of great trial.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost families and friends to this tragedy.

I have sent a message to the Prime Minister of Japan expressing the sympathy and concern of the people of Ireland.

The statement added that Ireland was ready to assist Japan “in any way possible.”

Ireland’s new minister for state for trade and development, Jan O’Sullivan, also said that humanitarian experts from the Irish Aid Rapid Response Corps would be on standby for possible deployment to the region.

O’Sullivan has also asked Irish aid officials to prepare a possible airlift of emergency supplies from the government’s stockpiles in Subang, Malaysia.

“We are assessing the situation in Japan and the region and are in contact with our EU and UN partners, as well as the Irish Embassy in Tokyo,” she added.